Pressure is intensifying on President William Ruto as civil rights groups vow to hold him accountable for a spate of abductions and killings linked to anti-government protests that began in mid-June.....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
The protests, driven largely by young people dissatisfied with the state of governance, have seen the government accused of resorting to heavy-handed tactics, including enforced disappearances. Civil rights groups have stated that at least 34 people were abducted and at least 61 others killed.
On Friday, August 30, several civil rights organisations declared their intent to present President Ruto with a comprehensive list of individuals who have disappeared or been killed during the protests.
This move, spearheaded by activist Hussein Khalid of Voice Africa and Anami Toure, Co-chair of the Mukuru Community Justice Center, reflects growing frustration with the government’s perceived inaction on human rights abuses.
These organisations plan to deliver the list to the Office of the President on Tuesday, September 4, pressing Ruto to investigate and address the reported violations. “We will take the President at his word and present this list, demanding that the government takes immediate and concrete actions to address the reported violations and arrest the killer cops,” the civil groups stated.
The civil rights groups’ demand comes as U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken urged governments to end the practice of enforced disappearances on International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. Blinken’s statement, issued on X, underscored the international concern over such human rights violations.
“We remember and stand with the victims and survivors of enforced disappearance and their families. We call upon governments to put an end to this egregious practice and respect human rights,” Blinken wrote.
Locally, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has been at the forefront of calling out the government over these enforced disappearances. LSK President Faith Odhiambo recently criticised Ruto’s assurances that such incidents would cease, labelling his promises as a “smokescreen.” Odhiambo’s statement highlighted the case of three men—Bob Micheni Njagi, Jamil Longton, and Aslam Longton—who were reportedly abducted in Kitengela last week. Despite court orders for their release, the men remain missing.
“The court issued orders for the unconditional release of the abducted persons by the Inspector General of Police. However, these orders have not been complied with,” the LSK’s statement read. This defiance by law enforcement authorities, according to the LSK, not only contravenes the rule of law but also underscores a troubling trend of constitutional violations in the country.
The LSK’s concerns echo the broader anxieties of Kenyans who have witnessed a surge in extrajudicial measures during the GenZ protests. These protests, which initially called for better governance, have now become a focal point of international and domestic scrutiny due to the government’s alleged use of illegal arrests, abductions, and even killings to suppress dissent.
Activists argue that the President’s failure to curb these practices casts doubt on his commitment to upholding human rights. “We expect a prompt and meaningful response from the highest office in the land, as anything less would be an insult to the memory of comrades who have lost their lives and their families who continue to suffer,” Khalid and Toure’s statement added…CONTINUE READING>>
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