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Abduction wave: Why MPs are on CS Murkomen’s case
Legislators want Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen to shed light on the recent abductions and address allegations of foreigners illegally acquiring Kenyan national identity cards and passports.
In 72 hours, three people from Mathare constituency in Nairobi County went missing under unclear circumstances leaving behind a wave of protests in the area that has so far resulted in the death of one person.
According to information given in Parliament by Mathare MP Anthony Oluoch, security officers allegedly picked up Joel Kariuki Mwai, Michael Oloo Osura and Abdulaziz Molu.
While raising the matter on the floor of the House, Mr Oluoch indicated that on June 18, 2026 Mr Mwai, a former MCA aspirant and businessman in Mathare, was allegedly abducted by armed individuals in civilian clothing. A day later, Mr Osura also went missing in Umoja around Caltex.
On June 20, Mr Maximilian Kiarie was also picked up by individuals in an unmarked vehicle around Kizito stage in Githurai, and on the same day Mr Molu also went missing in Kiamaiko.
“The reported incidents have caused anxiety among the families, given the allegations that the victims were taken by individuals claiming to be security officers,” MP Oluoch said..
These recent cases of individuals disappearing under unclear circumstances are among the questions awaiting Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen in Parliament.
The CS is supposed to provide an update on the whereabouts of the missing individuals and also clarify whether any security agency was involved in the alleged arrests.
Starehe MP Amos Mwago expressed concern over the increased cases of abduction, especially in Nairobi, which has led to protests and even the death of one person in Mathare.
“We would like the CS to tell us where these people are in order to prevent more deaths because people are still protesting and angry on the ground,” he said.
Mr Murkomen was on Tuesday expected before the National Assembly Committee Administration And Internal Security but he did not show up.
Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services, Belio Kipsang, appeared before the committee on behalf of CS Murkomen, informing lawmakers that the CS was attending a Cabinet meeting and had formally delegated him to represent the ministry.
However, the lawmakers insisted that the matters before the committee are weighty and the Cabinet Secretary should appear before them.
“These issues can be well articulated and addressed by the Cabinet Secretary,” said committee chairman Gabriel Tongoyo.
Apart from abduction cases, Mr Murkomen is also expected to provide clarity over allegations surrounding the illegal acquisition of national identity cards and passports by foreigners and insecurity in Angata Barikoi in Trans-Mara.
The lawmakers also want answers from the CS on measures the government has implemented to verify citizenship before issuing IDs and passports; investigations into fraudulent acquisition of Kenyan documents by foreigners over the last five years; the rising incidents of missing children; and the mysterious death of a child in Tharaka Nithi County.
Mount Elgon MP Fred Kapondi argued that Dr Kipsang could only adequately respond to issues relating directly to immigration services and urged the committee to defer the session until CS Murkomen could appear in person.
“If the Cabinet Secretary had to delegate, he should have delegated to Interior Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo,” Mr Kapondi said, adding that lawmakers needed sufficient time to “interrogate these issues” with the CS himself.
Nakuru Woman Representative Liza Chelule termed the security concerns raised by MPs as grave and urgent.
“The issue of missing children and related gender-based violence cases are serious matters that require the CS himself to appear before this committee,” she added.
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