In Mombasa County, the family of Yusuf Ali Abdi, a well-known businessman at Marikiti Market, says he vanished on the morning of April 2 after leaving his home for prayers at a nearby mosque.
“He was just going for prayers,” said Jamila Duba, a relative. “But he never got to the mosque. Since then, we’ve searched hospitals and contacted police stations, but we don’t know where he is.”
Abdi’s wife, Abdulnasir, echoed the pain of the family’s search. “We’ve looked everywhere—hospitals, mortuaries. We don’t know where he could be,” she said, fighting back tears.
His phone was found at home, and despite efforts by family and friends to trace him, no leads have emerged. His close friend, Shariff Abdallah, described him as a respected member of the community.
“Yusuf was a businessman, not a criminal. He’s not new to this city—he didn’t just arrive in Mombasa recently,” Abdallah said.
The disappearance sparked protests in the heart of Mombasa’s central business district, where traders and residents took to the streets, chanting and demanding answers. The chants of “Haki yetu!” (our rights) echoed through the market as tension mounted.
Meanwhile, in Nairobi, two other families are also living in uncertainty.
In South C, 29-year-old Idd Rashid Mubarak, who worked at a local shop, has not been seen for three days. According to his family, he left work one evening and never returned home. They claim those responsible for his disappearance are now demanding ransom.
“He left for work in the evening as usual, closed the shop, and never came back,” said his cousin, Zein Salmin. “We’ve tried calling his phone but it’s off. There’s been no communication.”
The case was reported to Akila Police Station, but relatives say no significant action has been taken.
“I just want him to know, wherever he is—we love you,” said his sister, Fatma Twaha. “Since our mother passed, he’s all I have left.”
In another troubling case, 23-year-old Peter Gachanja from Umoja estate was allegedly abducted by armed men on March 27. He had been walking with his cousin and a friend when a group of unidentified men stopped them.
“There were three men with AK-47s,” recalled Peter Kiragu, a friend who was with him at the time. “They told us to raise our hands. We ran. My cousin fell while trying to jump a fence, and I escaped. Since that day, I haven’t seen Peter again.”
The family believes the men may have been police officers, but authorities have not confirmed any operation in the area on that day. Gachanja’s whereabouts remain unknown more than a week later, with the trail now cold and his loved ones desperate for any information.
The three cases, though separate, have one thing in common: families left in limbo, with no answers and little support.
As the days go by, anxiety is turning to anguish. The families are calling on the government and investigative agencies to intervene urgently and help bring their loved ones home—or at the very least, offer clarity.
By Francis Mtalaki
