- More than 80 government critics have been missing since June 2024, according to the Kenya Human Rights Commission.
- At least seven are missing in December 2024, linked to abductors believed to be officers from the Directorate of the Criminal Investigations.
- Both the police and the DCI have denied their alleged involvement in the abduction of government critics.
Multiple protesters have been arrested in Nairobi and Mombasa during the all-for-an-end of police abduction demonstrations, dubbed #EndAbductionsKE, which has left seven missing since the beginning of this month.
In Nairobi, notable actvists were handcuffed and bundled at the Nairobi Central Police. Among them was the 2027 presidential hopeful, Busia Senator Okiya Omtataha, who spent the better part of the day in the Nairobi CBD together with furious Kenyans demanding an immediate release of abductees.
What began as a peaceful protest, with demonstrators walking in groups carrying placards and calling for immediate release of all the abductees, turned into an ugly scene the moment police officers deployed started lobbying teargas canisters recklessly.
Multiple sources have also alleged that Senator Okiya Omtatah was taken out of the Naorobi Central Police station to Gigiri Police station, leaving the rest of the activists and arrestees unfazed—singing in bold to get their grievances heard.
In Mombasa, a group of youths who attempted to demonstrate were cornered, arrested, and told to go and demonstrate in Nairobi. The fierce police officers, however, managed to cordon off the Mombasa CBD from the unfettered protesters, aiming to continue with the planned march for the end of abduction and the immediate release of the missing abductees.
Similar ungly scenes involving excessive use of force by the police were witnessed in Eldoret, as the all-round gathering was immediately met with a harsh response from the officers manning the town. Notable political aspirants and lead-gospel singer Reibenn Kigame were arrested in Edoret CBD in a similar fate.
A small gathering was however winested in Kisumu town, with several people minding their businesses. Initial protests were held in Embu town on December 27th, whereby residents demanded an immediate release of abductee Billy Mwangi, who was forcefully taken away by the men believed to be officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on December 21st, 2024.
Abduction of Youths Using Social Media to Criticize the Government
In December alone, more than 5 youths have been abducted, with the latest one taking place in South B on December 28th, 2024. Seven linked to the recent spate of abductions are still this month. alone, totalling to 82 since June 2024, according to the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC).
Those abducted recently in separate locations include Gideon Kibet alias Kibet Bull on X (formerly Twitter) and his brother Ronny Kiplagat, Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, Bernard Kavuli, Kelvin Muthoni, and Steve Kavingo.
The abductions are linked to ongoing criticism of government, especially on social media platforms, targeting political figures and public institutions marred with corruption and poor service delivery.
The abductions are allegedly conducted by officers believed to be from the Directorate of Ciminat Investigations (DCI) after they had posted AI-generated images and videos on social media that were deemed distateful to government leaders.
Public and Political Reaction to the Ongoing Abduction of Youths
This has caused widespread public reaction and political responses, with notable politicians like Raila Odinga condemning such actions. President Ruto, while speaking in Homa Bay during a football match at the Raila Odinga stadium, not only failed to condemn the abductions but also urged parents to discipline their children. He went ahead to state that investigations are on and those found culpable shall face the law.
Both the Majority and Minority leaders, Kimani Ichungywa and Junet Mohammed, however, put a different perspective regarding the abductions. The majority leader dimissed calims of abductions, suggesting that some individuals might be faking their abductions for political gain. He went ahead to call for a crackdown against those allegedly violating the Cybercime Act by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
Junet Mohammed, the National Assembly Minority Leader, also a wrong member of the opposition party, ODM, cricized young people on social media for behaving in an incivilized manner. He likened the images of political leaders in coffins, which some of the abducted individuals were involved in sharing, to a form of killing the leaders symbolically.
Rigathi Gachagua, Kenya’s former Deputy President, has been vocal and critical of the government since his ouster from the government a few months ago. He described the current wave of abductions as a government strategy to intimidate Kenyans into silence, suggesting it’s a method to suppress criticism while the government engages in corruption and mismanagement.
“This government’s strategy of trying to scare Kenyans into silence while they go ahead and lie, loot, and destroy our nation cannot and will not hold,” Rigathi said.
He alleged the existence of a secret unit led by someone named ‘Abel’, related to a senior government official operating from a building in Nairobi’s CBD, responsible for the disappearances. He demanded the dismantling of the aid unit, warning that if action wasn’t taken, he would reveal the building’s name and the full names of the officers involved.
Amid the alleged involvement of the police, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanks has maintained that the police are not involved in the abductions. He stated that no police station was holding any of the abducted individuals and that investigations were being conducted.
The DCI also publicly denied their involvement in the abductions, particularly in response to accusations made by Senator Okiya Omtatah.
