Chidzuga defends police against abduction allegations

Deputy Government Spokesperson Mwanaisha Chidzuga during a past radio interview.

The government has continued to defend the police against accusations of involvement in abductions.

Deputy Government Spokesperson Mwanaisha Chidzuga has questioned why Kenyans are quick to accuse the police instead of reporting the abduction cases.

"If there is someone who is missing, the best course of action is to file a report with the police so that investigations can be carried out instead of vilifying them," she said.

Speaking during an interview with a local radio station Saturday morning, Chidzuga urged Kenyans to be vigilant while cautioning them against such accusations.

"Let us be careful because police are being framed and we leave the criminals who perpetrated these evil acts go scot-free without being identified," she said.

Chidzuga urged parents and families of those who have been abducted to go and report urgently to facilitate investigations.

She further reminded social media users that freedom of expression does not extend to online attacks.

"On the issue of youth and silhouettes we have to be very thankful to President William Ruto because what is happening with those silhouettes would not be tolerated in some other countries which I won’t mention," Chidzuga said.

On Friday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen firmly denied that police are involved in abductions.

Murkomen asserted that there was no such policy in government of abduction or enforced disappearances.

The CS stated that anyone arrested by the police ought to be taken to court within 24 hours.

"The National Police Service has confirmed to us that it has not arrested anyone and failed to take them to court as required by the law," he said.

Murkomen moved to reassure the public that NPS does not work under the whims of any political leader regardless of their status.

"As a government we are in agreement that NPS under the command of Inspector General is independent and so we are not going to interfere with their work," the CS said.

"When the police say they do not hold any person and they have not arrested any person, we believe so and as the Executive, it is our duty to support them."

Murkomen was speaking in Bungoma on Friday at the home of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula where he had gone to condole with the speaker's family following the death of their mother.

The CS, however, issued a stern warning to those misusing their digital platforms saying they will be arrested.

He said the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act was in force and anyone found to have breached it will be dealt with accordingly.

"We will arrest all of them including other criminals and bring them to book," he affirmed.

National Assembly majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah and his minority counterpart Junet Mohamed echoed the sentiments and called on police to arrest anyone involved in online bullying and charge them in court to serve as a lesson to others.