Rights Groups Renew Calls for Accountability Over Alleged Abductions of Activists
National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) Chairman Alphonse Kanga said justice, accountability and democracy remain the foundation of a stable society.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Ian Kiprotich
Fresh allegations of abductions involving activists and Gen Z protesters following memorial events marking the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations have renewed concerns over human rights, police conduct and the protection of constitutional freedoms in Kenya.
The commemorative events were held to honor people who lost their lives during the June 2024 anti-government protests. In several parts of the country, including Nairobi, mourners and demonstrators were dispersed by police using tear gas, while dozens of people were arrested during the gatherings.
Families of those killed during the 2024 protests used the memorials to demand justice for their loved ones, calling for accountability over the deaths and injuries recorded during last year’s demonstrations.
In the days following the commemorations, human rights organizations reported that several activists arrested during the events could not immediately be traced, prompting concerns over alleged enforced disappearances.
Some of those who were later released alleged they had been held in unlawful detention and subjected to torture, claims that have intensified calls for independent investigations into the incidents.
Human rights organizations have condemned the alleged abductions and the reported use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators, arguing that such actions undermine constitutional rights, including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and personal security.
The groups have urged the government to investigate all reported cases of enforced disappearances, hold those responsible accountable and ensure the safety of citizens exercising their constitutional rights.
Speaking on the issue, Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) Chairman Hassan Ole Naado said communities should not be unfairly profiled or associated with criminal acts committed by a few individuals.
Naado said the Muslim community has for years faced prejudice because of stereotypes linking it to terrorism, adding that justice should be pursued through lawful institutions.
“There are legal ways of removing leaders from power rather than using goons to cause havoc,” he said.
Former National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) Commissioner Gitile Naituli also condemned the reported abductions, saying Kenyans should reject violence and lawlessness regardless of political differences.
“We should not normalize abductions and kidnappings. Kenyans must speak out against goonism,” Naituli said.
He argued that Kenya’s current challenges are rooted more in political and economic difficulties than in security threats, calling for dialogue and respect for the rule of law.
National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) Chairman Alphonse Kanga said justice, accountability and democracy remain the foundation of a stable society.
Kanga warned that enforced disappearances and unlawful treatment of citizens weaken public confidence in state institutions and undermine democratic governance.
“The church will continue to preach against abductions and unfair treatment of Kenyans who simply want to express themselves,” he said.
The renewed allegations have intensified public debate over the protection of civil liberties and the conduct of security agencies during public demonstrations.
Rights advocates continue to call for transparent investigations into all reported cases of alleged enforced disappearances, unlawful detention and excessive use of force, while urging authorities to uphold the Constitution and protect the rights of all Kenyans.
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