Pressure is intensifying on the government to address the abduction of youths, with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reporting that 29 individuals remain missing.
The KNCHR and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) are urging the government to ratify and implement the International Protocol on Enforced Disappearance. They condemned the ongoing pattern of targeting young Kenyans critical of President William Ruto’s administration, emphasizing that their rights are further violated when police fail to produce them in court within the required 24-hour period.
The rights commission criticized Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja’s denial of police involvement, calling it unacceptable and leaving citizens vulnerable. While Kanja claimed on December 26 that police were not responsible for the abductions—many of which were captured on CCTV and involved plainclothes men believed to be security agents—the KNCHR dismissed this as insufficient.
“It is the role of the National Police Service to protect every individual in Kenya from violent acts,” the commission said. “These abductions are happening in broad daylight, with some caught on CCTV, yet no arrests have been made.”
The KNCHR called for immediate investigations, arrests of those responsible, and the unconditional release of the missing individuals, or their formal arraignment if in custody. It also urged the government to safeguard its international reputation, particularly given Kenya’s seat at the Human Rights Council.
The LSK echoed these concerns, describing the incidents as alarming violations that undermine constitutional guarantees and public safety. The society criticized the lack of accountability, stating, “It is insufficient for the Inspector General to deny police involvement without detailing steps to address these violations.”
Both organizations reiterated the urgency of ratifying and domesticating the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances, emphasizing that law enforcement must uphold human rights and constitutional principles.
The abductions, many of which target vocal social media users, have drawn widespread condemnation, with rights groups warning that these actions severely damage Kenya’s image and erode public trust in state institutions.
