The Kenya National Commission of Human Rights (KNCHR) has raised alarm over the recent cases of abductions of social media influencers in several parts of the country.
According to data, KNCHR regrets that there has been 13 more cases of abductions or enforced disappearances in the last three months, bringing to 82 the total cases since June 2024 anti-government protests.
Seven of the recent abductions, KNCHR says, were reported in December 2024 with six of them still missing, bringing to 29 the total number of persons still missing since June 2024.
“The Commission, strongly condemns these abductions which fall outside the dictates of the Constitution. Abductions are torture, cruel, degrading and inhuman treatment: a non derogable right. They have no place in a democratic state like ours!” the Commission says in a statement to newsrooms.
The Commission is further warning that if these patterns of abductions continue, then “we shall be rapidly retrogressing back to the dark days of our history when such attacks were primarily to inflict fear on any person critical of the Government.”
“The KNCHR reiterates that the freedom and security of a person under Article 29 of the Constitution guarantees all the right not to be deprived of freedom arbitrarily or without just cause, not to be detained without trial, not to be subjected to any form of violence, not to be subjected to torture and not to be treated in a cruel, inhuman or degrading manner.”
On December 26, the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja denied any police involvement of police officers in the recent abductions. However, KNCHR says that denying is not enough.
“We remind the National Police Service of its role in securing every person in Kenya from such violent acts particularly noting that these abductions are happening in broad daylight, with some of them being captured on CCTV but still no arrests are taking place,” the Commission rues.
The Commissioning now wants the government to play its role in safeguarding the rights and well-being of everyone in Kenya. It is also reminding the government the important space it occupies in the international arena, including the seat at the Human Rights Council, and therefore the need to prioritise the promotion and protection of rights of everyone.
Consequently, the Commission is calling upon IG Kanja to expedite investigations and tell Kenyans who is responsible for these abductions, and protect the public from such incidences.
The Commission further IG Kanja to facilitate the immediate and unconditional release or presentation to court of any illegally detained persons, including the 29 who are still missing, if in police custody.
