By : Lloyd Mahachi
Kenyan President William Ruto has made a surprising promise to stop abductions of government critics, a stark departure from his previous stance where he dismissed the wave of disappearances as “fake news.” This change of heart comes after months of denial by Ruto and his government officials, who claimed that there were no abductions.
At least 82 government critics have allegedly gone missing since a youth-led protest movement began in June against a controversial finance bill. Some of the missing individuals have resurfaced, but many remain unaccounted for. A state-funded human rights body reports that 29 people are still missing, including six who disappeared just days before Christmas.
The disappearances have sparked widespread concern and outrage, with many Kenyans taking to social media to demand answers and justice for the missing individuals. The hashtag #FindOurPeople has been trending on Twitter, with many users sharing stories and photos of the missing individuals.
Ruto’s remarks, made at a stadium in Homa Bay, did not acknowledge any government responsibility for the missing individuals. Instead, he emphasized the need for parents to take better care of their children and for young people to be disciplined and polite. Human rights defenders, however, allege that government intelligence has been tracking down and abducting critics who have been mobilizing protests online.
One of the missing individuals is Gideon Kibet, a 24-year-old college student who created a viral cartoon of Ruto. Kibet disappeared after meeting with opposition senator Okiya Omtatah on Christmas Eve. His younger brother, Ronny Kiplangat, is also missing, and their family fears that security forces used Kiplangat as bait to lure Kibet to Nairobi.
Kibet’s family is desperate for answers, and his mother has been searching for him everywhere. She has visited police stations, hospitals, and even mortuaries, but there is no sign of her son. The family is worried that Kibet may have been abducted because of his criticism of the government.
Human rights activist Bob Njagi, who claims to have been abducted and tortured by security officers, reacted to Ruto’s promise by saying it was an admission that the abductions are happening under the government’s watch. Njagi, who leads the Free Kenya Movement, was abducted in August and held in solitary confinement for 30 days before being released.
Njagi’s experience is not unique, and many other activists and critics have reported similar experiences. They claim that they were abducted by security officers, tortured, and forced to reveal information about their activities and associates.
The Kenyan government’s denial of involvement in the abductions has been met with skepticism by many. Chief Minister Musalia Mudavadi claimed that social media has been used to spread false narratives about lawful arrests, but human rights defenders argue that the government is responsible for the enforced disappearances.
The police have denied any involvement in the abductions, with Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja stating that there is no police station holding the reported missing individuals. However, opposition senator Omtatah has called on Kanja and Kenya’s chief detective to “come clean” on the abductions or quit.
Omtatah has been vocal in his criticism of the government’s handling of the disappearances and has demanded that the government take action to find the missing individuals. He has also called for an independent investigation into the abductions and for those responsible to be held accountable.
The families of the missing individuals are hoping that Ruto will keep his promise to stop the abductions. Retired civil servant Gerald Mwangi, whose son Billy has been missing since Saturday, is conducting his own investigation into his son’s disappearance. Civil society groups and professional bodies have condemned the abductions, calling them enforced disappearances.
The international community has also expressed concern over the wave of disappearances and has called on the Kenyan government to take action to find the missing individuals. The United Nations has issued a statement expressing concern over the reports of enforced disappearances and has called on the government to investigate the incidents and bring those responsible to justice.
As the situation in Kenya continues to unfold, many are watching to see if Ruto’s promise will be followed by action. The government’s response to the disappearances will be crucial in determining the fate of the missing individuals, and in restoring trust in the government.
Editor : Josephine Mahachi