What is the case of the two missing Indians that PM Modi and Kenyan Prez Ruto discussed?

On Tuesday, during a three-day visit, Kenyan President William Ruto met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. The two heads of state discussed the issue of the two Indian tourists who went missing on a trip to Kenya in July 2022, confirmed Dammu Ravi, the Secretary of Economic Relations at the Ministry of External Affairs. 

The two tourists, Zulfiqar Ahmad Khan and Zaid Sami Kidwai and their Kenyan driver went missing in Nairobi, Kenya, in July 2022, leading to the arrest of nine police officers in connection with the case which was closely being monitored by India.

Dammu Ravi, the Secretary of Economic Relations at the Ministry of External Affairs, during a press briefing in New Delhi on Tuesday, December 5, said, "The matter of the missing Indians was discussed. As you're aware, this has been an ongoing issue for quite some time. Authorities on both sides have been communicating, and there has been an exchange of information between the two parties."

What happened in July 2022

• The two missing Indians went to Kenya to assist in William Ruto's election campaign.
• After leaving a popular club in Westlands in Nairobi, they, along with their local driver Nicodemus Mwania, reportedly went missing.
• About three months later, in October 2022, Kenyan police arrested nine officers in connection with the case.
• These officers, part of the disbanded Special Services Unit, are accused of involvement in the suspected kidnapping and murder of the three men.
• The Special Services Unit was disbanded by President Ruto due to allegations of extrajudicial killings and disappearances.
• An affidavit filed by the police in court stated that the taxi carrying the Indians was forcibly stopped by a group in a Subaru vehicle on a Nairobi road, reported BBC.
• The Indians and their driver were abducted and taken to the Aberdare forest, about 150 km from the city, where they were allegedly killed, and "their bodies were dumped."

Family, friends want to speak to Kenyan Prez

However, friends of Zulfiqar later said he was still alive, labelling the reports as "unverified," and that the case was under "active investigation". 

The family and friends of Zulfiqar, in a statement to India Today, expressed concern about his disappearance and sought an audience with Kenyan President Ruto to inquire about his whereabouts. 

India extended assistance to Kenya last year regarding the missing Indians and has been closely keeping track of the updates in the case, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Zulfiqar and Kidwai were reported to have played a significant role in Ruto's campaign success. 

In one of his last social media updates before going missing, Zulfiqar Ahmad Khan posted a video of a roaring lion in Kenya's Maasai Mara game reserve, where he was vacationing.

Zulfiqar had worked as the Chief Operating Officer of Balaji Telefilms, Managing Director of HOOQ, and Business Head and Chief Revenue Officer of Eros Now.