Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has broken his silence on concerns on abductions and forced disappearances that happened during the anti-government protests.
Kindiki in a statement issued on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, said the Gen Z-led protests were hijacked by a group of violent organized criminals who terrorized the public, robbed the demonstrators and attempted to burn down Parliament.
“Between 18th and 27th June 2024, demonstrations that began peacefully in expression of the fundamental right to the freedom of assembly, demonstration, picketing and petitioning of public authorities were hijacked by a group of violent organized criminals who terrorized the public, robbed the demonstrators and attempted to burn down Parliament and vandalize the office of the Chief Justice,” Kindiki’s statement reads in part.
Kindiki said the government had noted with concern the claims of abductions and enforced disappearances.
He said that Kenyans are protected from unlawful or arbitrary arrests, abductions and enforced disappearances, or any other illegal method of confining suspected criminals for purposes of investigations.
“The Government has noted with concern claims of abductions and enforced disappearances allegedly perpetrated by security personnel. All persons within the territory of Kenya are protected from unlawful or arbitrary arrests, abductions, enforced disappearances or any other illegal method of confining suspected criminals for purposes of investigations for prosecution or for whatever purpose whatsoever,” Kindiki stated.
Kindiki on abductions
Kindiki promised that the government will use independent constitutional and statutory agencies to investigate and prosecute any person or official who may be implicated in the recent abductions.
He maintained that anyone that will be implicated, whether a security personnel or public or private persons, will be dealt with accordingly.
“The Government reiterates its duty to respect and ensure the protection of all constitutionally guaranteed rights and will not condone any violation whether perpetuated by security personnel or by public or private persons.
“Independent Constitutional and statutory agencies will investigate and prosecute any person or official who may be implicated with violating the Constitution by perpetrating confinement of any person outside the law,” Kindiki continued.
Since the onset of the anti-Finance Bill, 2024 protests and subsequent anti-government demonstrations, many youths, who were believed to part of the Gen Z-led protests organizers, were abducted.
While a majority of them have since been released, some have been reported to be still missing up to now.
Most of the youths that were abducted are social media influencers, who were believed to be part of the planners of the protests that were largely organized via X platform.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has previously admitted that abductions and extra-judicial killings are back.