Dekow asks President Ruto to rescue Garissa residents from enforced disappearance

Garissa Township MP Dekow Mohamed has asked President William Ruto to address the rising incidents of insecurity that threaten to paint his administration in a bad light.

Security officers are on the spot following increased abductions in Garissa county.

Dekow said crime has risen in the county despite President Ruto's assurance to reign in on the suspects.

He spoke after visiting the Shafici Shop at Dobale, Galbet ward in Bula Medina to comfort a trader who lost Sh1.3 million during an armed robbery last week.

In the latest alarming incident, four people were abducted by people suspected to be police officers.

The abductees, Mohamed Buya Shangalow, Mohamed Hussein Ibrahim, Idle Farah and Osman Yussuf were abducted on different dates four months ago.

A section of leaders, residents and human rights activists stormed the Garissa police station demanding to know their whereabouts.

The UDA MP wondered why security officers defied the President's directive to stop unlawful detentions and torture of suspects.

He wondered why the police were unable to apprehend known criminals harassing, maiming and robbing innocent civilians yet they were in a hurry to arrest terror suspects.

“We want to know the people carrying out the abductions and extra-judicial killings with impunity in total disregard to President Ruto's orders. Who is protecting them? Is there something we are not being told? These are the questions we are asking ourselves as leaders and residents,” he said.

“As the area MP I want to make it unequivocally clear that such abductions will no longer be tolerated. I am committed to ensuring that law enforcement agencies follow due process and uphold the rule of law," he added.

Dekow said the country is governed by the rule of law, noting that all suspects must be subjected to due process.

He gave examples of terrorist attacks on Garissa University, Westagate and Dusit where the suspects were arraigned in court and jailed.

ODM-nominated MP Umulkheir Harun took issue with the enforced disappearance of terror suspects, noting that this had gone on unchecked.

“I am deeply concerned by the continued abductions. Police need to follow the law and present any suspects in court. The matter is of huge concern and we demand the immediate release of all the abductees,” she said.

Umulkheir, who has been very vocal on the issue, said she has already submitted statements to the DCI and expects them to reveal the whereabouts of those reported missing.

Speaking to the Star on the phone, the Garissa County Muslim for Human Rights coordinator Abdishukri Jelle bashed the President Ruto-led government for not backtracking on its commitment to end enforced disappearance.

“There seems to be a clear disconnect between the executive and law enforcement agencies at the grassroots. Otherwise, how do you explain a situation where such incidents occur despite the President's promise to end them,” he said.

He said going forward the organisation will try and document the cases while working with other stakeholders to hold the Kenya Kwanza administration to account.

He asked the government to formulate policies that discourage such criminal activities.

“The government needs to ratify without reservation, the international convention for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings and pass legislation to criminalise such practices,” he said.