Editor's Review

"In the spirit of his legacy, we join the calls in Kenya for accountability and respect for rule of law. Abductions must end."

The US Embassy in Kenya has asked the government to end abductions witnessed in the country in recent days. 

In a statement on the death of former US President Jimmy Carter on Tuesday, December 31, Chargé d'Affaires Marc Dillard called for accountability and respect for the rule of law. 

"President Carter championed human rights worldwide. In the spirit of his legacy, we join the calls in Kenya for accountability and respect for the rule of law. Abductions must end," the statement read in part.

Kenya recently experienced a concerning rise in abductions, particularly targeting government critics and opposition figures. 

Since June 2024, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has documented 82 such cases, with 29 individuals still missing.

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In response to these abductions, protests have erupted in different parts of the country including Embu, Mombasa, and Nairobi. 

File image of Marc Dillard and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen

On December 30, 2024, police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators demanding the release of seven individuals allegedly abducted earlier in the month.  

Among those arrested during the protest was opposition politician Senator Okiya Omtatah, who had recently filed a case in the High Court seeking the release of the missing youths.

On December 29, 2024, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) expressed concerns over recent reports of abductions, calling for immediate investigations into the incidents.

In a statement, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga directed the Inspector General of Police and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to expedite investigations and submit reports for review and potential action within three days. 

"I have, pursuant to Article 157 (4) of the Constitution, directed both the Inspector General of Police and the IPOA to expedite the investigations touching on reported cases of abductions and alleged forced disappearance of citizens, and forward the resultant files for perusal and action, and/or provide an update on the investigations, within three (3) days from the date hereof," the statement read in part.