The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has called for the immediate resignation of several prominent political figures allied with President William Ruto, accusing them of making statements that support abductions and extrajudicial killings.
In a statement on Monday, January 6, the organization singled out National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, MPs William Kamket (Tiaty), John Waluke (Sirisia) and Oscar Sudi (Kapseret), Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
Additionally, the KHRC demanded the resignation of the Inspector-General of Police, Douglas Kanja, citing his failure to prevent abductions under his watch.
"We demand the immediate resignation of Ichung’wa, Kingi, Kamket, Sudi, Murkomen, Waluke, and Kindiki from their state offices over their utterances supporting abductions. We also demand the resignation of Inspector-General of Police, Douglas Kanja, as abductions occurred under his watch," the KHRC said in a statement.
KHRC noted that during a requiem mass in Bungoma for the mother of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula on January 3, Ichung’wa dismissed abduction claims, suggesting victims were fabricating stories for financial gain.
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"In what appeared to be an attempt to divert attention, Ichung’wa made startling claims about abductions and killings during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure, accusing a governor of orchestrating a scheme that led to dozens of missing persons’ bodies dumped in River Yala. Ichung’wa and Atwoli spoke in Bungoma on January 3 during the requiem mass of the mother of National Assembly speaker Moses Wetangula," KHRC stated.
At the same event, KHRC says Kingi warned that the government would adopt brutal tactics against youthful critics, attributing their dissent to poor upbringing.
"He warned parents not to wail over their children when the government 'takes action'," KHRC said in regards to Kingi's remarks.
On the other hand, KHRC stated that Waluke added to the growing chorus of remarks by dismissing abductions as fabricated stories aimed at discrediting the current administration.
The organisation also took issue with Kamket who on January 5, during interdenominational prayers in Kerio Valley, dismissed online criticism of Ruto’s administration, calling critics lazy bones in bed and warning of potential constitutional changes to extend Ruto's term.
At the same event, KHRC noted that Sudi openly supported punitive measures against those sharing satirical images of the president, even suggesting harsh actions if he held the position of Interior CS.
These comments, according to KHRC, follow assertions by Murkomen who denied the occurrence of abductions and extrajudicial killings under the Ruto administration.
"At the same event, Oscar Sudi, the Kapsaret MP, openly supported the abduction of those sharing Ruto’s AI-generated satirical images. He said that, if he were the Interior CS, it would only take him three days to deal with those creating and sharing Ruto’s silhouette images through authoritarian actions.
"These threats followed a denial from Kipchumba Murkomen, the Interior CS, that no abductions and extrajudicial killings were happening under Ruto’s watch. Murkomen’s statement trivializes the executions of young people who exercise their right to freedom of expression in agitation against a regime that is miserably failing them. He spoke in Bungoma on December 27," the KHRC added.
Kindiki has also faced criticism for remarks made in September 2024, where he justified the use of excessive force against unarmed protesters.
"These politicians seemed to have taken a cue from deputy president Kindiki Kithure, who, in September of last year, justified the use of excessive force by police against unarmed protesters, leading to deaths and abductions. Kithure made these remarks during his appearance before the National Assembly’s security and administration committee," KHRC stated.
