- Kenya is facing a troubling rise in abductions, targeting young people critical of the government.
- Victims include journalist student Benard Kavuli and others across multiple counties.
- Civil society, opposition leaders, and the Law Society of Kenya condemn these violations of human rights, demanding justice and adherence to the rule of law.
A troubling wave of abductions has gripped Kenya during the festive season, with at least four cases reported so far. This alarming trend appears to target young people critical of the government and top leaders, evoking eerie parallels to colonial-era disappearances—a grim competition in cruelty.
In Ngong, Kajiado County, a family is desperately searching for their loved one after he was abducted by four armed men on the evening of Sunday, December 22, 2024. The victim, Benard Kavuli, a journalism student at Mt. Kenya University, is believed to have been targeted for his outspoken posts on social media. His latest post on X criticized the government, referencing unresolved issues from the 2007 post-election violence.
Kavuli's abduction came just a day after another young man, Peter Muteti, was forcefully taken by armed men in Uthiru at around 9:00 a.m. Muteti’s abduction occurred under similar circumstances, as did the disappearance of Billy Mwangi in Embu.
"The last time I talked to my brother was when I called him to come to Ngong for a small assignment. I had called him, and he confirmed that he was coming," said Mary Kavuli, Benard's sister. "I waited for him until 7 p.m.; that's when I became worried that he wasn't here yet."
Attempts to trace Kavuli have been fruitless, as his phone remains switched off, leaving his family and friends in anguish. Mary reached out to those close to him after sensing something was wrong, only to hear of a kidnapping in Ngong town.
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In Nandi County, another family is grappling with a double tragedy. Two brothers, Kibet the Bull, a cartoonist on X, and his brother Rony Kiplagat, vanished under mysterious circumstances in Kikuyu, Kiambu County. Their disappearance adding to the growing list of similar cases, spreading fear across the country.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has voiced concerns over these incidents, noting a disturbing pattern of alleged involvement by members of the National Police Service. "We are concerned with the rising cases of abductions of various persons allegedly by members of the National Police Service," the authority stated. IPOA confirmed it is investigating four cases reported over a span of five days as of December 25, 2024.
Civil society, religious leaders, and political figures have strongly condemned these acts. Faith Adhiambo, President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), criticized the perpetrators;
"We condemn the heinous acts that the NPS, under the leadership of the Inspector General of Police, continues to perpetrate against the people of Kenya, in total violation of human rights."
The AU Chairmanship candidate Raila Odinga also expressed his outrage, describing the abductions as "primitive" and a sign of governance failure. "We cannot live in a country where people disappear, abducted for no reason, and kept incommunicado for a long time. This shows that there is no government. Many parents have been crying," Odinga said during a Christmas mass in Siaya County.
Kalonzo Musyoka echoed Odinga's sentiments, calling for the police to respect the rule of law. "If there are crimes apparently committed by some of these young people, and you feel that it is an affront to your dignity or something, instead of abducting them, arrest them," Kalonzo said while addressing a similar Christmas gathering.
As families mourn and communities demand justice, one pressing question remains: Will these abductions cease, and will those responsible face the law, or will this dark chapter in Kenya’s history continue to unfold? Time will tell.
