logo
ADVERTISEMENT

KNCHR: 82 people abducted since June, 29 still missing

KNCHR says those still missing were reported abducted between December 17-25.

image
by FELIX KIPKEMOI

News26 December 2024 - 19:40
ADVERTISEMENT

In Summary


  • In the last three months, the commission said there have been 13 reported cases with December alone accounting for seven.
  • One person has, however, been found out of the seven recorded this month.

Kenya National Commission on Human Rights chairperson Roselyne Odede. /FILE


A total of 82 persons have been abducted since June this year with 29 yet to be traced to date, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has said.

In the last three months, the commission said there have been 13 reported cases with December alone accounting for seven.

One person has, however, been found out of the seven recorded this month.

The list of the six who are still missing are said to have been abducted between December 17-25.

They are Steve Mbisi from Machakos, Billy Mwangi (Embu), Peter Muteti ( Nairobi), Bernard Kavuli (Nairobi), Gideon Kibet alias Kibet Bull (Nairobi) and Rony Kiplang'at (Kiambu).

Expressing its concern over the worrying trend, KNCHR chairperson Roselyne Odede said they are closely monitoring the situation.

She raised fears that should this continue, "we shall be rapidly retrogressing back to the dark days of our history when such attacks were primarily to inflict fear on any person critical of the government."

Odede apportioned blame to the National Police Service saying they are responsible for ensuring the safety of all Kenyans.

"We wish to remind the NPS of its role in securing Kenyans from such violent acts particularly noting that these abductions are happening in broad daylight, with some of them being captured on CCTV but still no arrests are taking place," she said.

Odede urged the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to come clean on who is perpetuating the abductions and embark on immediate investigations and arrest those found culpable.

She stressed the need for unconditional release or presentation to court of any illegally detained persons, including those still missing.

Kanja, however, denied that any of the reported abducted persons were being held at any police station across the country.

“The matter in question is subject to investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and any other independent body. We appeal to anybody with relevant information about any missing person to report to the nearest police station,” Kanja said in a statement early Thursday.

Odede said as a commission, they would be appearing in court on Habeas Corpus to seek accountability for the missing and abducted persons.

A Habeas Corpus is a writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court, especially to secure the person's release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention.

At the same time, Odede reiterated calls for the government to ratify and domesticate the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances.

"As a member of the Human Rights Council, Kenya must walk the talk and lead from the front," she said. The mysterious abductions have sparked outrage across the country and sparked fears of the emergence of a criminal cartel out to terrorise Kenyans.

Related Articles

ADVERTISEMENT

logo© The Star 2024. All rights reserved