The government has denied allegations that it is behind the recent reported abductions of activists, maintaining that enforced disappearances are not part of its security policy and urging those making such claims to provide evidence to support investigations.
Speaking during an induction programme for newly appointed Deputy County Commissioners, Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo said President William Ruto’s administration does not condone abductions and remains committed to upholding constitutional rights.
According to Dr. Omollo, the issue of enforced disappearances should not be associated with the current administration.
“Hiyo mambo ya utekaji nyara ni mambo ilipitwa na wakati. Actually, katika ile serikali iliyopita, ndio tulikuwa na hiyo changamoto ya watu kutekwa nyara ama kuwa abducted… wengine walikuwa wanapatikana kwa mito na sehemu zingine tofauti. Tangu tuchukue usukani, Rais William Ruto has been very clear kwamba katika uongozi wake hakutakuwa na mambo kama hayo,” he said.
The Principal Secretary pointed to the recent nationwide demonstrations, arguing that the government allowed Kenyans to exercise their constitutional right to protest peacefully while those arrested for alleged offences were processed through the courts.
“Hivi majuzi tumekuwa na demonstrations zenye zimekuwa peaceful, wenye walikuwa wanataka kudemonstrate walikuwa na nafasi. Wenye walikuwa na shughuli zingine waliendelea na shughuli zao, na watu wenye walikamatwa na polisi walipelekwa mahakamani,” he added.
Government Claims Some Abduction Reports Are Fabricated
Dr. Omollo’s remarks come amid growing public concern over alleged disappearances of activists and other Kenyans, with human rights organisations continuing to demand independent investigations into the reported cases.
However, the Principal Secretary claimed that some of the alleged abduction incidents were fabricated to portray the government negatively, alleging that certain individuals had voluntarily gone into hiding before resurfacing.
“Tumekuwa na watu wanasema kuwa wamekuwa abducted ama wametekwa nyara, mwishowe tunapata kuwa ni watu ambao walikuwa wanataka kuwekelea serikali lawama… ni watu ambao walikuwa wamejificha kibinafsi kwa njia ambayo pengine ni mambo yao ama ni ile kutafuta umaarufu na kujaribu kutuonyesha kwamba kama serikali hatuzingatii maslahi ya Wakenya ama tunadhulumu Wakenya,” he said.
Dr. Omollo maintained that there have been no State-sponsored abductions under President Ruto’s administration and challenged anyone whose relative is missing to report the matter to the relevant authorities so investigations can be conducted.
He further argued that cases of enforced disappearances were more prevalent under the previous administration, insisting that the current government has adopted a different approach to security and the protection of citizens’ rights.
