For more than two weeks, the whereabouts of six young Kenyans, believed to have been abducted by State security officers, are yet to be established, with their families crossing into the new year with many unanswered questions.
Even though security agencies have been accused of carrying out the abductions—which started after the youth-led protests in June last year—the National Police Service has not only denied any involvement, but also worryingly failed to give any updates on the matter.
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Victims of the abductions have been identified as vocal social media users who have used a variety of words and images to criticise President William Ruto and his administration.
Last week, President Ruto said at an event in Homa Bay County that he would ensure the abductions ended. This was seen as a signal that the young men would be released from wherever they were being held. But the President also warned against misuse of social media sites.
In recent days, the President and his close allies have asked parents to “guide young people to avoid fraying the nation’s moral fabric”, comments seen as targeting dissenting voices online.
In the last three months, at least 13 cases of abductions have been reported, with December 2024 alone accounting for seven, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said last week.
One person, whose social media user name on X is “Naomi” @jabertoto was, however, found.
A total of 82 reports of abduction have been made since June 2024, with 29 yet to be traced to date, the commission said.
The list of the six who are still missing since December 2024 include Steve Mbisi from Machakos, Billy Mwangi (Embu), Peter Muteti (Nairobi), Bernard Kavuli (Nairobi), Gideon Kibet alias Kibet Bull (Nairobi) and Rony Kiplang’at (Kiambu).
Mr Muteti,22, was buying milk and eggs from a shop in Uthiru, Kiambu County, when he was taken by armed men and forced into a waiting vehicle on December 21, 2024. No one has heard from him ever since.
During a peaceful demonstration held by residents at Muteti’s rural home in Maara, Tharaka-Nithi County last week, his parents—Barnabas Njeru and Doricate Njeru—pleaded with President Ruto to assist them to secure the release of their son from his captors.
“We are very worried. If my son wronged you, President Ruto, please forgive him and release him,” Mr Njeru said.
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Mr Gerald Mwangi, the victim’s father, said his son is a disciplined boy who has been vocal on social media, expressing his views on the state of governance of the country.
His mother, Ms Regina Wairimu, pleaded with his son’s captors to release him, adding that if he had committed any wrong, she will personally ensure that he is disciplined since she is a strict parent.
Mr Kavuli, 24, was kidnapped at a petrol station in Ngong town by four armed men.
His abduction is linked to his activities on social media, with the latest posts on his X platform criticising the government while highlighting issues related to the 2007/2008 post-election violence.
The fourth-year Journalism student at Mount Kenya University was among X users who engaged in a discussion about the events of the post-election violence.
Mr Kiplang’at was abducted in Kikuyu, Kiambu County on December 25, 2024. His family knew he had gone for a church service and this was the last time they heard from him.
“We waited until evening and when we tried calling him, he could not be reached. We thought he had gone for a church service at SDA Kikuyu. We sent his friend to check if he was in the house. He said Kiplang’at was not in the house,” his sister Mercy Cherotich said in a phone interview.
His brother, Kibet Bull the cartoonist, got worried when he failed to reach Mr Kiplang’at and travelled from Njoro to Kikuyu to follow up on the matter.
“Kibet had been called for a function with Senator Okiya Omtatah. He left home on Tuesday and dropped his items at his friend’s home in Kikuyu,” she said.
“We wanted him to confirm if our other brother had returned home but we are yet to reach Kibet on phone,” Cherotich said last week.
The family says that Mr Kibet had been avoiding the city for fear he would be held for criticising President Ruto and his government.
Expressing concern over the worrying trend, KNCHR chairperson Roselyne Odede said they are closely monitoring the situation. The United States, through the Bureau of African Affairs and its embassy in Nairobi, has also raised concern over the abductions and called for the release of those being held.
On December 30, 2024, the High Court issued orders directing the immediate release of six individuals who were allegedly abducted and detained by the state in December. Pressure piled on Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja after Justice Bahati Mwamuye summoned him to court following the filing of a case under a certificate of urgency submitted by the Law Society of Kenya.
However, Mr Kanja failed to honour the summons, which required him to be present. He instead sent representatives.
Mr Mwangi’s father, Mr Gerald Karicha, told the court that he did not know the whereabouts of his 24-year-old son abducted before Christmas.
“Your honour, mtoto wangu alichukuliwa kwa kinyozi (my son was taken from a barbers shop),” he said at Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi on December 31.
“Your honour, that car had surveyed my neighbourhood for three days. The other car was a double cabin pick-up that was behind that Toyota Fielder car,” he narrated amid sobs.
Mr Karicha said the Fielder was leading the pick-up, but it sped off upon reaching where Mr Mwangi was. He said four “well-built” men alighted from the second car and whisked his son away.
“Who took my son and where is my son? When I look around the court I cannot see my son, I thought he is here (following a court order to produce him),” he said.
President Ruto broke his silence on the numerous cases of abductions and enforced disappearances on December 27, 2024, when he pledged to end abductions and called on parents and the youth to foster responsibility and discipline.
“I will end the abductions. This is because we want the youth to live in harmony and be responsible, disciplined, and patriotic,” he said.
The President added: “I’m asking the youth of Kenya because we want to walk together. I’m telling each and every parent: please be responsible and take care of your children. Our children are gifts. Please do your part, and as a government, we shall also do our bit,” he said.
Despite his assurances to deal with this worrying trend of abductions, those abducted in December are yet to be released.
