The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reports that 82 people have been abducted since June of this year, with 29 still missing.
The commission documented 13 incidents in the last three months, seven of which occurred in December alone.
One person has been identified out of the seven reported this month.
The six people who are still missing are alleged to have been taken between December 17 and December 25.
Steve Mbisi from Machakos, Billy Mwangi from Embu, Peter Muteti from Nairobi, Bernard Kavuli from Nairobi, Gideon Kibet, often known as Kibet Bull from Nairobi, and Rony Kiplang’at from Kiambu.
Roselyne Odede, chairperson of the KNCHR, expressed concern over the worrying trend confirming they are closely monitoring the situation.
A Habeas Corpus writ requires a person under arrest to appear before a judge or in court, primarily to secure the individual’s release until valid grounds for imprisonment are proved.
At the same time, Odede urged the government to ratify and domesticate the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances.
“As a member of the Human Rights Council, Kenya must walk the talk and lead from the front,” she said.
The strange abductions have aroused indignation across the country, raising concerns about the development of a criminal cartel seeking to terrorize Kenyans.
Syhe raised fears that should this continue, “we shall be rapidly retrogressing back to the dark days of our history when such attacks were primarily to inflict fear on any person critical of the government.”
Odede blamed the National Police Service, claiming they are accountable for protecting the safety of all Kenyans.
“We wish to remind the NPS of its role in securing Kenyans from such violent acts particularly noting that these abductions are happening in broad daylight, with some of them being captured on CCTV but still no arrests are taking place,” she said.
Odede requested Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to be honest about who was behind the abductions, launch swift investigations, and arrest those found responsible.
She emphasized the importance of unconditional release or presentation to the court of all unjustly held individuals, including those who are still missing.
Kanja, on the other hand, denied that any of the claimed abducted individuals were being held at any of the country’s police stations.
“The matter in question is subject to investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and any other independent body,” Kanja said in a statement early Thursday.
“We appeal to anybody with relevant information about any missing person to report to the nearest police station.”
Odede stated that as a commission, they would appear in court under Habeas Corpus to pursue accountability for the missing and abducted individuals.
