Four Years On, Kenyan ICT Specialist Ken Ngeno Still Missing

The family of Ken Kipkirui Ngeno, an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) specialist, is marking a fourth year of unrelenting uncertainty following his disappearance on February 24, 2021. 

Despite extensive searches and persistent appeals to authorities, the circumstances surrounding Ngeno's vanishing remain unresolved, compounding the family's distress. Ngeno, who was employed by an ICT firm in Mombasa, contracted to service communication masts for a major Kenyan telecommunications company, reportedly expressed deep-seated fears for his safety in the weeks leading up to his disappearance. His family is now imploring government officials to reinvigorate the investigation into the case.

"We are appealing to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja, and the Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin to reopen the case and conduct fresh investigations," says a family spokesperson, emphasising the need for renewed commitment from law enforcement.

According to his mother, Ms. Linda Biegon, and elder brother, Mr. Walter Ng’eno, Ngeno had confided in them about his growing apprehension, claiming he was being pursued by unknown individuals. On the day of his disappearance, Ngeno made a final, desperate phone call indicating he was being followed and feared for his life.

"That phone call was the last we heard directly from Ken," Mr. Ng’eno recounts, highlighting the abruptness and mystery surrounding his brother's disappearance.

The ensuing search has been exhaustive, encompassing police stations, hospitals, morgues, and even mass graves discovered in Shakahola and bodies retrieved from River Yala. These efforts have yielded no positive identification or definitive leads, placing immense strain on the family's emotional and financial resources.

Prior to his disappearance, Ngeno had been working in Mombasa for approximately three months. During this time, he began expressing concerns about potential threats, reportedly stemming from tensions with some of his colleagues.

On February 24, 2021, Ngeno contacted his brother, expressing his desire to leave Mombasa immediately. Mr. Ng’eno advised him to travel to Nairobi by bus and then proceed to their family home in Bomet for safety.

Ngeno reportedly took a tuk-tuk, using the driver's phone to inform his family that he was en route to the bus station. According to the tuk-tuk driver, Ngeno was insistent that he was being tracked, which prompted him to discard the phone.

Following Ngeno's disappearance, his brother travelled to Mombasa to investigate. His inquiries led him to the tuk-tuk driver and to the apartment Ngeno shared with colleagues in the Fisheries area. 

The building's caretaker corroborated Ngeno's claims that his life was in danger. Despite these leads, initial investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations revealed that Ngeno's mobile phone was last active on February 23, one day before he disappeared.

The family has also faced the added burden of fraudulent individuals who have attempted to exploit their desperation, offering false information in exchange for money. This exploitation has deepened the emotional toll on the family.

"We've spent every penny we had travelling across the country, chasing shadows," Ms. Biegon says, emphasising the financial sacrifices the family has made in their search.

Ngeno's case highlights a broader, systemic issue in Kenya, where numerous families are grappling with the unresolved disappearances of their loved ones. These cases often lack closure, leaving families in a perpetual state of grief and uncertainty. As the fourth anniversary of Ngeno's disappearance approaches, his family remains steadfast in their pursuit of answers. They are urging government authorities to prioritise the case and ensure a thorough and transparent investigation.

"We pray every day, believing that God will answer," Ms. Biegon says, her voice filled with hope and determination. "We invested everything in his education, expecting that he would bring positive change to our lives. But now, all we have is pain."