The group expressed deep concern about the continued practice of enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests
The Police Reforms Working Group Kenya (PRWG-K) has demanded that President William Ruto bring to a complete stop alleged police abductions. This is after he decried that he was not aware of any Kenyan who the country’s security agencies reportedly abducted during or after the recent spate of anti-government protests across the nation.
In a statement to newsrooms, the group expressed deep concern about the continued practice of enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests, despite President Ruto’s promise to end this practice.
In their words, “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.”
An image of a man covered up during a kidnapping. /PHOTO
The group evidenced recent cases of abductions in what looked like fact-checking Ruto’s claims during a town hall session in Kisumu on Thursday evening, August 29, even as he called on citizens whose kin or friends reportedly went missing under mysterious circumstances during protests to come forward with their names to action to be taken by the government.
In one such case, on August 17, Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) board member Khelef Khalifa was reported to have been arbitrarily arrested for insisting the police follow the recent court order banning the deployment of masked officers during routine police duties.
“We reiterate article 49 of the constitution of Kenya, which protects the rights of all arrested persons, including access to legal assistance and clear information on reasons surrounding the arrest. We call upon the Inspector General of Police to hold to account police officers who executed the unlawful arrest and uphold constitutional procedures when effecting arrests,” added the statement.
PRWG-K also noted a case on August 19 where Bob Njagi, Aslam Longton, and Jamil Longton were abducted in broad daylight following the Kitengela protests, adding that it has been eight days since the three individuals were separated from their families in unclear circumstances in total disregard of the rule of law and fundamental human rights.
The group called upon the Inspector General of Police to investigate and reveal the identities of the men who abducted Bob, Aslam and Jamil and have them presented before a court of competent jurisdiction in line with constitutional provisions and orders issued by the High Court on the same.
“We urge President 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. The pain and suffering endured by victims and their families must come to an end,” added the statement.
The government was also compelled to take immediate steps to hold those responsible for these violations accountable and prevent further occurrences, adding that President Ruto’s leadership on this matter is crucial in restoring justice and upholding the human rights of all Kenyans.
The National Assembly was also urged to remain seized by and act on these constitutional violations and enact legislation to protect Kenyans against forceful disappearances, investigate and hold accountable those responsible for enforced disappearances.
PRWG-K is an alliance of national and grassroots organisations committed to professional, accountable, and human rights-compliant policing, and among those groups is the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) which accused the Head of State of lying to Kenyans that he was unaware of the abductions.
“President Ruto’s claim that he’s unaware of any Kenyan forcibly disappeared by security agents during anti-government protests is a blatant lie,” the commission claimed on Friday, August 30.
During the Thursday town hall meeting, Ruto instructed Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, who was also present, to take up the matter and ensure that the cases are followed to the letter and the missing individuals found.
“If there is a family, any family whose child or their friend or relative, went to a demonstration, last year or this year and never came back, I want to know the names,” Ruto directed.
“I will take firm and decisive action because as I talk to you today, I don’t have a single name of somebody who has been abducted or disappeared.”
The President went ahead to reiterate his promise to Kenyans during the campaign period that he would end the era of extrajudicial killings and State-enforced disappearances if elected to top office.
Collage of popular internet personalities abducted during anti-government protests. /X