The Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations wants Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to explain the rising cases of abductions across the country, amid growing concerns over the safety of citizens and the apparent involvement of individuals believed to be security officers in the incidents.
The committee, chaired by Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo, raised the concerns during a meeting at Parliament Buildings on Tuesday, warning that the growing number of abductions and incidents of hooliganism was creating fear among Kenyans and undermining public security.
Senators said there was an urgent need for decisive action to address the incidents, particularly as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election, warning that failure to contain the trend could trigger further insecurity in different parts of the country.
Senator Dullo cited Isiolo County, where she said approximately 10 people had reportedly been abducted, describing the situation as shocking and warning that Kenyans could not continue living in fear.
"It is a matter of concern that we are experiencing very many abduction cases across the country; for instance, in a county like Isiolo, about 10 people have been abducted. This is shocking and is creating fear among Kenyans and needs to be addressed urgently," said Dullo.
Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo.
Photo credit: Waweru Wairimu | Nation Media Group
Nyamira Senator Okongo O’mogeni questioned the Inspector General's repeated failure to appear before the committee over a pending inquiry into the abduction of Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich, disclosing that the police chief had sent apologies three times over the matter.
O’mogeni said it was worrying that the committee had yet to conclude its inquiry into the journalist's abduction even as fresh cases continued to emerge, raising questions about the ability of security agencies to guarantee the safety of citizens.
He also raised concern over the recent abduction of lawyer Abshir Ahmedsadak Abdi, who was allegedly bundled into a vehicle by armed men in Nairobi on November 1, saying that he had still not been traced 10 days later.
The senator warned that the incidents were setting a dangerous precedent where citizens could no longer be assured of their security, particularly when those involved in the reported abductions appeared to be individuals linked to security agencies.
Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich.
Photo credit: Pool
He questioned why the country's security chiefs had not provided a clear explanation over the incidents, insisting that the government had a responsibility to account for the whereabouts of missing citizens and ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.
"We urgently need the Interior Cabinet Secretary and Inspector General of Police to appear before us and explain what is happening; we cannot have people being abducted without trace several days later yet we are an independent country," the Nyamira senator said.
Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda warned that the reported cases of abductions and hooliganism were also damaging Kenya's international reputation, cautioning that the tourism sector could suffer if the Government failed to take decisive action against the vices.
Senator Ojienda said that individuals suspected of committing crimes should be arrested and presented before courts rather than being held in undisclosed locations, where they could allegedly be subjected to torture before being released without any explanation of the offences they were suspected of committing.
He maintained that the country could not allow a situation where citizens lived in fear of being abducted, regardless of their social or professional standing, while those responsible operated without accountability.
"No Kenyan should be living in fear of abduction no matter their position in society, those who are guilty of crime should be taken to court and charged; we should not have people being held in secret locations for unknown reasons," he said.
The concerns come amid mounting questions over the conduct of security agencies following reports of individuals being abducted by armed men who appeared to be security officers.
CS Murkomen, who appeared before the National Assembly plenary last week, denied that abductions were being carried out by State agents, insisting that anyone involved in the unlawful disappearance of citizens was a criminal, regardless of whether they served in the security agencies.
The Interior Cabinet Secretary told legislators that there was no government directive, ministry policy or security agency mandate authorising the abduction of citizens, adding that officers who engaged in such acts were abusing their authority and should not be considered legitimate security personnel.
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"I would like to inform Kenyans that any person who is abducting any citizen cannot be a security officer, even if he is serving within the security service, that person is a criminal because there is no government policy allowing abductions," said Murkomen.
The Cabinet Secretary maintained that arrests must be conducted in accordance with the law, with suspects presented before a court within 24 hours as required by the Constitution, saying anyone operating outside the constitutional framework was committing a criminal act.
He further told legislators that reported abductions and cases of missing persons were investigated individually, adding that the government would provide Parliament with updates on specific cases raised by lawmakers.
However, CS Murkomen said he had not been briefed on the investigation status of some of the cases raised before Parliament and would therefore respond in writing rather than provide information that had not been verified.
"I would like to inform Parliament that I have not been briefed on the investigation status of some cases before the House and would therefore respond in writing rather than give unverified information," he said.
The Cabinet Secretary also claimed that some reported abductions, particularly those involving political leaders, had been fabricated, adding that individuals found to have made false claims had been taken to court.
CS Murkomen and IG Kanja are expected to appear before the Senate committee on Thursday, November 19, to respond to the concerns raised by senators.
