Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka addresses a press conference on December 30, 2024.Opposition leaders led by Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka have demanded the release of all youth who have been abducted and detained illegally in the last three months.
Addressing a press conference at the SKM Command Centre in Nairobi, the politicians further demanded that all 29 missing youths whose whereabouts are unknown be accounted for, forthwith.
“We the People’s Loyal Opposition demand that all 82 youth who have been abducted in the last three months be released and returned to their families immediately,” Kalonzo said.
He regretted that the Kenya Kwanza administration embarked with shocking familiarity, the practice of abducting the youth just because they expressed their opinion, drew pictures, and created artwork widely shared on social media.
Kalonzo also regretted that up to date, the balaclava-wearing abductors captured clearly on CCTV have not been arrested.
The Wiper leader stated that anti-abduction protests kicked off in Nairobi and other urban areas.
In Nairobi, police fired tear gas to break up demos in the Central Business District.
Businesses that had opened were hurriedly shut out of fear of looters as police engaged the protestors in running battles.
While the protesters maintained they were unarmed and peaceful as they vowed to carry on with their demos, police demanded that they go home, saying they did not have a permit.
The protestors wielded placards of some of the latest victims of alleged police abductions and enforced disappearances, including Gideon Kibet, Ronny Kiplagat, Steve Kavingo Mbisi, Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, Bernard Kavuli and Kelvin Muthoni.
On Friday, Kenyan rights groups, lawyers and politicians
voiced concern over a fresh spate of abductions targeting government critics.
Security forces have been accused of carrying out illegal detentions since youth-led anti-government demonstrations in June and July.
The latest disappearances have been primarily young men who have criticised the Kenya Kwanza regime online.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said there had been 82 abductions carried out "clandestinely, with unidentified armed persons" since June, with 29 still missing.
It listed seven people who had been abducted since December 17.
