President William Ruto (left) and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County for this year's Genowa Governor's Cup on December 27, 2024.
Pressure on President William Ruto to end the rising number of abductions – seven in December and 82 since June – mounted on Friday, with Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga and former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua demanding swift and decisive action.
Mr Gachagua talked of an abductions squad based in the City Centre and run by a relative of a senior government official.
Mr Odinga said social media jibes should not lead to abductions or torture.
President Ruto said the government would end the abductions but asked parents to play their role properly.
“We want to walk together. Children are a blessing from God. Parents should take care of them and the government will do our part,” he said in Homa Bay County
“Na yale yamesemekana, mambo ya abductions, tutakomesha ndio vijana wa Kenya waweze kuishi kwa amani na vilevile wawe na nidhamu ili tuweze kujenga Kenya Pamoja (And what has been said on abductions; we will stop it so that Kenyan youth can live in peace and have discipline in order to build Kenya together).”
He gave the remarks during the football final of Odi Genowa Governor’s Cup 2024 at Raila Odinga stadium.
Guessing game
Mr Odinga, who on Christmas Day described the abductions as a return to the dark ages of the one-party rule, repeated his message, calling for the dignity and rights of citizens.
“We want to get to the new year. Let sins not be repeated and cross into the new year. Young people should be safe. I have told my friend, President Ruto to ensure cases of youth being arrested, handcuffed, taken, locked up and tortured should stop. Whoever does this should be arrested and sent to prison for Kenyans to live in peace,” Mr Odinga said.
“Even if you are against me, that does not make you an enemy. You are not my enemy if you abuse me. I have been abused many times on social media. I look as some of the insults and say whoever is behind them is a fool. We want to have peace for Kenya to develop.”
Mr Gachagua was breathing fire more than 400 kilometres away in Mathira, Nyeri County, saying a covert unit is responsible for the recent abductions and killing of government critics and young Kenyans.
“There is a unit in Nairobi City Centre operating from the 21st floor of a building, led by a certain Abel. We will reveal his second name in a week,” Mr Gachagua, who was impeached in October, told a press conference at his home.
“This unit comprises personnel from several government agencies but is not under police. Abel is a cousin of a very senior government official.”
The former deputy president added that if the unit is not dismantled, he would spill more beans, including the leader’s full name and their connection to the senior official.
“These people are not answerable to the police commander. Your guess is as good as mine as to who the commander is,” Mr Gachagua said.
He challenged President Ruto to address the allegations, telling him to take a clear stance on the abductions of government critics and demonstrate that he is not involved.
Mr Gachagua also criticised Inspector-General of Police, Douglas Kanja, for “appearing powerless in the abductions”.
“When the Inspector-General of Police says his officers are not involved but acknowledges that abductions are happening, what should the public think?” he asked.
In a statement mid-this week, Mr Kanja distanced police from the abductions and killings.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the National Police Service is not involved in any abduction. There is no police station...that is holding the reported abductees,” Mr Kanja said.
“The matter in question is subject to investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and any other independent body. We appeal to anybody with relevant information about a missing person to report to the nearest police station.”
On Friday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen asked Kenyans whose relatives have been reported missing to record statements with police, who “are not under the command of anybody other than the Inspector-General”, adding that the matter would be acted on.
“We will support police in making sure they do thorough investigations to establish the whereabouts of those citizens. The Independent Police Oversight Authority is also doing its own investigations and we must support them. We will give them the resources they require to ensure our country is safe,” Mr Murkomen said.
“We will not harm people just because they hate us. We do not. There is no police for harming people for hating you. We will ensure those who commit crimes are taken to court.”
Like President Ruto, the Interior Cabinet Secretary said Kenyans should monitor their children’s behaviour, including on social media.
He described some of the comments made by young people online as despicable.
“I find it unfortunate that leaders, including the clergy, are glorifying the things this generation is doing on social media. Some of the things are unfortunate,” Mr Murkomen said.
“Posting bad images, silhouettes and such things.”
He asked society to “help guide children to the right path.”
National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetang’ula, called for sobriety on social media.
“For those using social media, communicate, raise funds, seduce one another, but stop causing despondency, hatred and dividing society on dangerous lines,” Mr Wetang’ula said.
Yesterday, distraught relatives of those abducted urged the government to find or release them, if they are in custody.
“Karani Mwema, our last born, disappeared on December 16. We have searched everywhere and reported to Kayole police station, but there has been no progress. We haven’t slept since he disappeared. The pain of not knowing where he is being held is unbearable,” Mwema’s sister, Susan Ndunge, told the Saturday Nation.
Elsewhere, the family of 39-year-old Martin Mwau is desperately searching for him after his disappearance on December 16.
Mr Mwau, a boda boda rider, left home for work that morning but has not been seen since.
Mr Ndeti Mwau said family members, friends and fellow riders have looked for his brother” all over” and even reported the issue to police.
Ms Shakira Wafula, a youth activist, called for protests on Monday, December 30.
“The streets are calling for justice. We urge Kenyans to join us in this fight for our rights and the return of our loved ones,” she said yesterday.
Mr Gachagua said the Kenya Kwanza administration has gone to new heights by targeting children for abduction, “something unprecedented”.
“Since independence, no government has gone after children. This is the first administration to engage in such repression. Even the colonial administration, brutal as it was, never targeted children,” Mr Gachagua said.
Young people
“The President must answer a simple question: Why is everyone against this administration, just two years into its term? By silencing the opposition and capturing the National Assembly and Senate, the government has created a vacuum, and new forces – such as the church and young people – are stepping in to demand accountability.”
The former deputy president reiterated his earlier calls for the resignation of top security officials, including Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) head Mohamed Amin and National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Noordin Haji, accusing them of failing Kenyans.
On Friday, Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua also called for the immediate and unconditional release of those abducted, accusing police of being directly responsible for the wave of disappearances.
Anglican Church of Kenya head Jackson ole Sapit, Mombasa Catholic Archbishop Martin Kivuva, the Law Society of Kenya and the Judiciary have condemned the abductions and called for the arrest and prosecution of those involved.
“It is not enough for the Inspector-General of Police to deny complicity without outlining the steps being taken to address these serious violations,” LSK President Faith Odhiambo said in a statement.
She called on police to take immediate and decisive action in response to the growing concerns over abductions and enforced disappearances.
The State-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said it had recorded 13 more cases of abductions or enforced disappearances in the last three months, bringing to 82 the total cases since June 2024, with 29 so still reported missing.
Nation.Africa reached out to State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, and Police Spokesperson Dr Resila Onyango for a response to the allegations by Mr Gachagua.
Mr Mohamed referred us to the president’s speech in Homa Bay, while Mr Mwaura asked us to speak to Dr Onyango on the matter.
The police spokesperson promised to get back, having asked to be allowed to reply to our text messages, but had not responded by the time of going to press
The abductions began during the nationwide demonstrations against the Finance Bill, 2024, corruption and what organisers called bad governance.
Reported by Mercy Mwende, Stephen Munyiri, George Odiwuor, Mercy Simiyu and Dan Ogetta
