Barbara Plett Usher, Maureen Nyukuri & David Wafula reporting for BBC News in Nairobi have uncovered a disturbing trend in Kenya. More than 80 government critics have disappeared in the last six months, sparking public outrage.
A judge has threatened to imprison top security officials for contempt of court if they fail to explain the recent spate of abductions. The disappearances are linked to protests against proposed tax hikes, with at least 24 individuals still missing.
Despite denials from the police and government, concerns are rising about state-sponsored abductions returning to Kenya. The Inspector General of Police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Director have been ordered to produce seven social media influencers who vanished in December.
One of the influencers, Billy Mwangi, was released 75km from his hometown after being missing since December. His father described him as traumatized and in shock. Billy, a vocal government critic on social media, was abducted from a barbershop by hooded men in a disturbing incident.
Other victims, like the Longton brothers, were warned not to speak out about their ordeal after being released. They were held captive for 32 days and subjected to beatings. The brothers eventually came forward to expose the government’s involvement in their abduction, citing violations of their rights.
The Kenyan government denies responsibility for the abductions, attributing them to organized crime or political motives. However, cases like that of government minister Justin Muturi’s son being detained by the National Intelligence Service raise serious concerns about state involvement in these disappearances. Barbara Plett Usher, Maureen Nyukuri y David Wafula “¿Pero cuál es una contra-historia del Servicio de Inteligencia Nacional?
“Quisiera decir categóricamente que el presidente de la República de Kenia, que es el jefe de gobierno, no ha autorizado ninguna forma de abducción en absoluto, porque es un hombre que cree en el estado de derecho”.
De hecho, Ruto ha prometido públicamente detener las abducciones, obligado a responder a la indignación pública y a la preocupación de los aliados occidentales.
Muchos están angustiados de que la aparentemente sistemática desaparición de activistas antigubernamentales haya vuelto a surgir de esta manera, recordando métodos similares bajo el liderazgo autoritario de Daniel arap Moi en los años 1980 y 1990.