- Every year on August 30, the world observes the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
- The group urged Ruto to uphold his promise and quickly address enforced disappearances, abductions and arbitrary arrests.
Image: FILE
Police Reforms Working Group Kenya (PRWG-K), a human rights group, has asked the government to take immediate action against officers behind recent enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests.
In a statement released to coincide with International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the group said those responsible for the violations must be held accountable to prevent further occurrences.
“We urgently call upon President William Ruto to fulfil his legal obligation to uphold and protect the Constitution and end the harrowing practice of enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests,” the lobby said.
Every year on August 30, the world observes the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
The day highlights the grave injustices faced by countless individuals and their families around the world and calls for action to prevent such atrocities in the future.
Established by the UN General Assembly in 2010, the day aims to draw attention to the fate of individuals who have been forcibly disappeared, often by state officials or with state complicity.
In the statement, PRWG-K said it is deeply concerned by the continued practice of enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests.
The group urged Ruto to uphold his promise and quickly address enforced disappearances, abductions, and arbitrary arrests and ensure that all state agencies abide by the law when executing arrests.
“Your leadership currently on this matter is crucial in restoring justice and upholding the human rights of all Kenyans,” the group added.
Ruto has repeatedly spoken against the practice.
PRWG-K further called on the National Assembly to remain seized by and act on these constitutional violations.
PRWG-K is an alliance of national and grassroots organisations committed to professional, accountable, and human rights-compliant policing.
They include the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), Kariobangi Paralegal Network, Defenders Coalition, Katiba Institute, Social Justice Centres Working Group (SJCW), Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya), International Justice Mission (IJM-K), HAKI Africa, Amnesty International Kenya and Women Empowerment Link.
Others are Social Welfare Development Program (SOWED), the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA- Kenya), the the International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ - Kenya), Transparency International Kenya, Shield For justice, Wangu Kanja Foundation, Constitution and Reform Education Consortium (CRECO), Kenyans for Peace, Truth and Justice (KPTJ) and Peace Brigades International Kenya.
Arbitrary arrests, abductions, and forced disappearances of Kenyans bearing dissenting opinions and views against the government have been on the rise since the protests began in June 2023.