Former Secretary-General of the Kenya Civil Servants Union and human rights advocate Dr. Isaac Newton Kinity has called for the international community’s intervention on the abductions and murders allegedly carried out by the Kenyan government against critics of President William Ruto
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reports that at least 82 people have disappeared since June 2024. Many of the victims are believed to have been targeted for expressing critical opinions, including one linked to a satirical cartoon mocking President Ruto.
Two Kenyan lobby groups, Kituo Cha Sheria and Mathare Social Justice Centre, have already petitioned the High Court to compel Attorney-General Dorcas Oduor to refer cases of abductions and enforced disappearances to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as crimes against humanity. On Friday, the court gave the Attorney-General two weeks to respond.
President Ruto, who previously dismissed reports of abductions as “fake news,” recently pledged to end the disappearances and urged parents to ‘teach their children good manners’. Despite this, abductions persist, casting doubt on the government’s resolve to address the issue.
Dr. Kinity, now serving on the Presidential Advisory Board of the Republican National Committee in the United States, compared the current abductions to the Nyayo-era atrocities of the late 80s and early 90s. His advocacy for justice in the 1990s forced him into exile after facing threats to his life.
“The police have failed to arrest or provide any information about the abductors. This should not be allowed in our country,” said Dr. Kinity, emphasizing that freedom of expression, including satire, is constitutionally protected.
The United States of America’s Nairobi Chargé d’Affaires Marc Dillard has urged Kenya to uphold the rule of law and end the abductions. The U.S. Embassy, in a tribute to the late President Jimmy Carter, reiterated the call for accountability, stating, “Abductions must end.”
The crisis has heightened tensions within Kenya’s political leadership. Recently impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua alleged that a rogue unit outside the police command is responsible for the abductions and killings. He hinted that President Ruto might ultimately be responsible.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja denied police involvement, stating, “There is no police station in the country holding the reported abductees.” However, Gachagua dismissed this, demanding the dismantling of the alleged rogue unit.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga condemned the abductions, urging the government to act swiftly. “This year has been challenging for Kenyans, with demonstrations and innocent lives lost. We must also see an end to the abductions of innocent people,” said Odinga.
Dr. Kinity warned that the abductions, if unchecked, pose a grave threat to Kenya’s national security and human rights record. He called for local and international action to demand accountability and pressure the government to resolve the crisis decisively.
“Our Kenya Defence Forces must remain vigilant and step up to safeguard the nation, especially now that the National Police Service appears compromised and ineffective in addressing the ongoing abductions and deaths,” stated Dr. Kinity.
