By Erestinah Jane, June 29, 2026
Mathare social justice activist Davis Lichuma was found alive on Sunday night after he was allegedly dumped near Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Nairobi, three days after his reported abduction during the June 25 Gen Z protest anniversary demonstrations.
Lichuma was discovered by a Good Samaritan along Ngong Road in a critical condition. Witnesses said he had been stripped of his clothes, appeared heavily sedated and bore visible signs of severe physical torture. The Good Samaritan alerted emergency responders before human rights defenders arrived at the scene and facilitated his transfer to hospital.
He was initially rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital for emergency treatment before being transferred to Nairobi Women’s Hospital in Hurlingham, where he is receiving specialized care.
Medical personnel and activists attending to him said Lichuma remains highly traumatized and disoriented. They added that he has been unable to speak or communicate since he resurfaced, making it difficult for investigators and relatives to establish what transpired during the period he was missing. Doctors are expected to conduct further examinations to determine the full extent of his injuries.
Lichuma, a prominent member of the Mathare Social Justice Centre, disappeared on Thursday, June 25, during demonstrations commemorating the second anniversary of the Gen Z protests. Witnesses claimed he was forcibly bundled into a vehicle by masked men before being driven to an unknown destination.
Fellow activists allege that he was initially detained at a gazetted state security facility before being removed by a group of plain-clothes operatives and taken to an undisclosed location. These claims have not been independently verified, and authorities have not confirmed the allegations.
His disappearance was among several cases reported during and after the anniversary protests, with civil society organizations claiming that a number of youth leaders and community organizers were abducted in different parts of Nairobi.
Those named by activists include Frederick Odhiambo, Collins Otieno, Elijah Alam, Michael Ngige and Muteti Mulinge. While some have since resurfaced with injuries, activists say others remain unaccounted for, including youth leader Macmillan Kiarie.
Lichuma’s reappearance came just hours before the expiry of a 24-hour ultimatum issued by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and other civil society organizations demanding that security agencies produce him or disclose his whereabouts. The groups had threatened to organize fresh demonstrations in Nairobi if he was not found.
Human rights defenders have described his condition as deeply disturbing, saying it raises fresh concerns over alleged enforced disappearances and torture targeting activists following the June 25 protests. They have called for an independent, transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and the injuries he sustained while in captivity.
The National Police Service confirmed that a missing person report had been recorded at Central Police Station after Lichuma’s disappearance.
Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said investigations are ongoing and appealed to families of other missing persons to formally report their cases to the nearest police station to enable detectives to investigate and trace those still unaccounted for.
Rights organizations have also urged the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), and other oversight agencies to closely monitor the investigations and ensure anyone found culpable is held accountable in accordance with the law.
The incident has intensified scrutiny of the security response to the June 25 demonstrations, with civil society groups insisting that constitutional rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression and personal security must be protected. They have further called for urgent measures to prevent enforced disappearances, unlawful detention and torture, while demanding justice for all victims affected during the recent protests.
