Kenyan President William Ruto has pledged to halt abductions following a surge in disappearances that have drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organizations, legal professionals, and political figures.
The recent wave of abductions has predominantly affected young men critical of the government, particularly those active in online discourse. Rights groups have dismissed police denials of involvement and called for action.
Addressing a gathering in Homa Bay, a town in western Kenya, President Ruto stated, “We are going to stop the abductions so that our youth can live peacefully.”
In his annual state of the nation address in November, Ruto condemned “any excessive or extrajudicial” actions but also asserted that many of the detentions were legitimate arrests targeting “criminals and subversive elements.”
The recent abductions have sparked small-scale protests in at least one town. Police have denied involvement, but activists have questioned why they appear to not be investigating the disappearances.
The Law Society of Kenya has called for immediate investigations and prosecutions of those responsible, stating that if the police are not complicit, they must act swiftly.
Human Rights Watch has reported that its research points toward a unit drawn from multiple security agencies being behind the disappearances.
President Ruto’s remarks follow allegations from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who claimed that a secret unit was behind the disappearances.
The government’s response to the abductions remains under scrutiny, with calls for transparency and accountability intensifying.
