Ruto allayed concerns of impromptu arrests.
President William Ruto has poured cold water on recently reported cases of abductions, reiterating that his administration was still committed to ensuring that there were no extra-judicial killings in the country.
Speaking on Wednesday, June 26 during a press briefing at State House, Ruto allayed concerns of impromptu arrests, stating that those who were arrested during the anti-Finance Bill protests were detained at police stations.
Furthermore, those who lost their lives during the protests would be accounted for.
“I did promise the country that there will be no extra-judicial killing going forward; and ever since I came into office, there is not one incident of extra-judicial killing…What you said about abductions are statements attributed to our civil society groups. But all the people they mentioned have since been found in police custody and those that were already processed were already released.”
Ruto further announced that a total of six people lost their lives during the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests, contrary to reports that more than 20 people have been confirmed dead.
Furthermore, 214 people had been injured, with 95 already treated and released from different hospitals. He added that only one person was in ICU and that 14 were still in hospitals.
Human rights organizations and other International bodies had however reported conflicting figures with the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) disclosing that 23 people were fatally shot during the protests and more than 300 people were injured.
KHRC also noted that most of the killings occurred on Tuesday night, pointing out that officers reportedly opened fire at protesters in Githurai.
“As of yesterday evening, the Police Reforms Working Group (PRWG) recorded 23 deaths caused by police shootings nationwide. There were over 50 arrests, 22 abductions and over 300 injuries. Reports reaching us also indicate that police opened fire and killed several people in Githurai, Nairobi, last night,” KHRC stated on Wednesday.
According to a report by Amnesty International on Tuesday, 13 people were shot with live bullets, four with rubber bullets and 3 sustained injuries after being hit with teargas canisters. As a result, over 31 people were injured and five people were shot dead.
Ruto’s remarks came moments after the High Court ordered the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the National Police Service (NPS) led by Inspector General Japhet Koome to release all the abducted Kenyans held incommunicado, immediately and unconditionally.
“THAT Noting that it is over twenty-four hours since the abductions complained of took place, an ORDER is hereby issued Directing the respondents, their agents and or servants, to IMMEDIATELY and UNCONDITIONALLY RELEASE the 2nd to 13th petitioners, pending the hearing and determination of this application,” read the order in part.
