There is increasing pressure on the government to address the issue of abducted youths, with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) revealing that 29 individuals are still missing.
The KNCHR, along with the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), is urging the government to immediately ratify and implement the International Protocol on Enforced Disappearances.
The rights commission has condemned the abductions of young Kenyans critical of President William Ruto’s administration, emphasizing that these actions violate their rights.
It also criticized the failure of police to present the detainees in court within the 24-hour legal window, further undermining their rights.
The commission expressed frustration over the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, who dismissed the allegations of abductions, claiming police were not involved.
KNCHR, however, finds this explanation insufficient, noting that such abductions are occurring in broad daylight and are even captured on CCTV, yet no arrests are being made.
The rights body stresses that ensuring citizens’ safety is the government’s responsibility and that the ongoing abductions are tarnishing the country’s international image.
“We remind the government of its prominent position in global human rights discussions, including its seat on the Human Rights Council.
It’s crucial that the government prioritize the protection of all its citizens’ rights,” said the commission.
In its call for action, the KNCHR urged the police to expedite investigations into the abductions, identify those responsible, and hold them accountable.
Additionally, it demanded the immediate release or presentation to court of the 29 missing individuals, should they be in police custody, and emphasized the need for the country to ratify and domesticate the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances.
The Law Society of Kenya also expressed serious concern over the rising cases of abductions, enforced disappearances, and related human rights abuses, particularly targeting individuals, including social media users like Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, Bernard Kavuli, and Gabriel Supeet.
LSK rejected the police’s denial of involvement in the abductions, stressing that it was not enough for the Inspector General of Police to simply deny these claims without providing a clear plan of action to address the violations.
LSK further highlighted that while it is the responsibility of state agencies to maintain law and order, they must do so in accordance with constitutional and legal frameworks that protect human rights.
“The safeguarding of fundamental freedoms, as guaranteed in the constitution, must remain central to the actions of all state actors,” the society stated.
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