Several leaders have condemned the widespread cases of abductions in the country, with a section of them calling for the resignation of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.
In a statement on Thursday, December 26, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino asserted that the claims by the police IG that the service was not involved in the abductions were deceitful.
The vocal legislator claimed that Kanja has failed in his constitutional duty of upholding law and order with integrity as he called for his resignation.
"The claim that the National Police Service is not involved in the abductions of Kenyan citizens is as hollow as it is deceitful. The experiences of victims, eyewitnesses, and grieving families paint a grim reality that is impossible to ignore. The IG’s attempt to absolve the police of responsibility without substantive evidence or transparency demonstrates contempt for the very people he swore to protect," Babu Owino stated.
He added, "I categorically state that the Inspector General has failed in his constitutional duty to uphold law and order with integrity. His tenure has been characterized by impunity and a blatant disregard for the sanctity of human life. I therefore demand his immediate resignation to pave the way for credible investigations and the restoration of public trust in the National Police Service."
Read More
Similarly, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga condemned the incidents of abductions, asserting that a government unable to guarantee the security of its citizens lacks the legitimacy to govern
"A government that cannot guarantee the security of its citizens and their rights to their property has no legitimacy to rule. Worse still is when the government itself is implicated in abductions, false arrests, malicious prosecutions, and extrajudicial executions," Mutunga claimed.
Meanwhile, KANU Chairman Gideon Moi called on the government to account for the individuals reported missing and to present them in court if they are suspected of involvement in any crimes.
Moi claimed that the government cannot suppress the demands of young people through abductions, as he strongly condemned the incidents
"What the young people are opposed to is the government attempting to impose what they imagine is good for them while excluding them from decisions that profoundly affect their lives. As such, it is incumbent on the government to understand that it cannot silence dissent with abductions but by simply making the system work for the people.
"Therefore, this deeply disturbing trend cannot continue unchecked as distressed families agonize about the whereabouts of their loved ones. We condemn these acts and call on the government to produce these individuals before a court of competent jurisdiction if they are deemed to have committed any crime under the law," the KANU leader stated.
According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), 13 cases of abduction have been reported in the last three months, with seven of them reported in December.
In a statement on December 26, KNCHR chairperson Roseline Odede claimed that of the seven cases reported in December, one individual has been found and that 29 individuals are still missing since June 2024.
"There have been 13 more cases of abductions or enforced disappearances in the last three months, bringing to 82 the total cases since June 2024. Seven of the recent abduction cases were reported in the month of December 2024, with six of them still missing, bringing to 29 the total number of persons still missing since June 2024," Odede claimed.
In the meantime, Inspector General Police Douglas Kanja has noted that no police station in the country is holding any of the reported abductees.
