Former Chief Justice David Maraga has criticized President William Ruto for failing to apologize to the families of Kenyans who were abducted during recent security crackdowns.
According to Maraga, while it was important for the Head of State to address the issue, it was insensitive to claim that all victims had been safely returned without acknowledging the pain suffered by their families.
Speaking out on the matter, Maraga condemned the President’s remarks as deeply hurtful, particularly to parents who are still grieving.
“It is unconscionable for the President to announce, without any apology to the victims, their families, and the nation, that enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings are no longer happening — while accountability mechanisms remain absent. Such statements are agonizing for parents who are still mourning the loss of their children,” Maraga said.
The former CJ, who has become an outspoken critic of the government in recent months, cited the unresolved case of Brian Odhiambo, who disappeared four months ago and remains missing.
Maraga noted that many families continue to cry out for justice, highlighting the petition launched by parents on Mother’s Day in memory of young people killed during the June 2024 protests against the controversial Finance Bill.
President Ruto made his remarks during a joint press conference with visiting Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
In response to a journalist’s question about the government’s commitment to ending enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings, Ruto assured the nation that such abuses would not be tolerated under his leadership.
“All the people who disappeared or were abducted have been brought back to their families and their homes,” President Ruto said. “I have given firm instructions that nothing of that kind will happen again.”
However, rights groups and relatives of missing persons disputed the President’s assertion.
The latest report from human rights coalition Missing Voices documented 55 cases of enforced disappearances in 2024 alone.
The month of June, which saw a wave of Gen Z-led protests against the Finance Bill, recorded the highest number of cases at 15. October followed with 11 cases, while both July and August each had seven reported incidents.
The report also highlighted the challenges in holding perpetrators accountable, noting that many of the abductions were carried out by armed men in civilian clothes, using unmarked vehicles with no identifiable number plates — making it nearly impossible to trace those responsible.
Further fueling public concern was a recent BBC investigative documentary titled Blood Parliament, which alleged that some of the masked operatives involved in suppressing the protests were members of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), operating outside the law.
