On Monday, opposition politician Senator Okiya Omtatah and several other protesters were arrested in Nairobi during a street demonstration demanding an end to the alleged abductions of government critics, which have intensified in recent months. The protest was sparked by the abduction of seven individuals earlier in January, believed to be young critics of the government.
Omtatah, alongside hundreds of other demonstrators, gathered in the streets of the Kenyan capital, chanting calls for police to release the abducted individuals. The group, which sat down in protest, voiced their concerns about the growing climate of fear among young people critical of the government. The protesters held onto a long chain as a symbol of solidarity with the missing youths.
In response, Kenyan police deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd. When Omtatah and other protesters refused to leave, they were arrested.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has been outspoken in raising alarms about the recent surge in alleged abductions. According to their reports, there have been 82 cases of abductions since the anti-government protests that began in June 2024. Rights groups, including the KNCHR, have expressed concern that these abductions disproportionately target individuals who oppose the government.
On Saturday, President William Ruto addressed the issue, pledging that his government would take steps to stop the abductions and restore peace for the country’s youth. However, rights organizations and opposition figures have pointed to the police as being behind many of these disappearances, though the authorities have denied these allegations. Police have claimed that investigations are ongoing into the cases of missing persons.
In response to the ongoing disappearances, Senator Omtatah filed a case in the High Court of Nairobi on Monday, demanding the immediate release of the seven abducted youths. Omtatah called on the government to either charge and prosecute the detained individuals or release them without delay. “If they have committed a crime, let them be prosecuted and presented in court to defend themselves,” he stated.
Younger protesters, including Orpah Thabiti, expressed their fears about the current state of the nation. “We are existing at a time where we have to live in fear,” she said, emphasizing the growing insecurity faced by those who dare to oppose the government.
The protests also highlighted the plight of four social media users who had gone missing after sharing AI-generated images of President Ruto that were deemed offensive by some of his supporters. These disappearances have sparked further outrage among human rights advocates, who are concerned that Kenya is returning to a period reminiscent of the “dark days” under the rule of the late President Daniel Moi. During Moi’s presidency, the abduction and torture of political dissidents was a common practice.
As the situation continues to unfold, both local and international human rights groups are calling on the Kenyan government to investigate the abductions and hold those responsible accountable. The issue remains a significant source of tension, with the opposition and rights organizations pushing for greater accountability and transparency from the authorities.
