On Thursday, Kenya’s police stated that they are not connected to the recent wave of abductions aimed at government critics. They refuted these claims in a statement. Several human rights organizations have accused Kenyan security forces of conducting numerous unlawful detentions following significant anti-government protests in June and July. Recently, Human Rights Watch indicated that its investigation points to a mysterious unit of officers from various security agencies, including military intelligence and an anti-terrorism unit. Nevertheless, the police have distanced themselves from these cases. “The National Police Service is very concerned about the ongoing claims that Police Officers are involved in abductions in Kenya,” they stated. The latest incidents have disproportionately affected young social media users who have criticized President William Ruto’s government. Reports indicate that three young men in their early 20s — Peter Muteti, Billy Mwangi, and Bernard Kavuli — went missing over the weekend. Additionally, a fourth unnamed individual has reportedly been abducted in recent days. Muteti was reportedly taken by a group of men outside a shop in the Nairobi suburb of Uthiru and forced into a car. Witnesses cited by Citizen TV claimed that one of the abductors was in police uniform. The Independent Police Oversight Authority, an official institution, announced that it has dispatched rapid response teams to the locations of the abductions in Embu, Nairobi, and Kajiado counties. On Wednesday, the Police Reforms Working Group, a coalition of human rights organizations, urged the government to immediately disclose the whereabouts of the missing individuals, ensure their safety, and either present them in court or release them unconditionally. While denying their involvement, the police did not indicate any progress in identifying those responsible for the abductions. Earlier this month, the Kenya National Commission for Human Rights stated that at least 74 individuals have been kidnapped since the protests, with 26 still unaccounted for. Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who has recently allied with Ruto, also called for an end to the abductions on Wednesday, labeling them as primitive.
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