Opposition leaders, spearheaded by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, have called for the immediate release of all youth who have been abducted and detained illegally over the past three months. Addressing a press conference at the SKM Command Centre in Nairobi, Kalonzo also demanded accountability for 29 missing individuals whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Call for Justice
“We, the People’s Loyal Opposition, demand that all 82 youth who have been abducted since June be released and returned to their families immediately,” Kalonzo stated.
He condemned the Kenya Kwanza administration for allegedly targeting young people who expressed their opinions through social media posts, artwork, and criticism of the government. Kalonzo further lamented the lack of action against abductors seen wearing balaclavas in CCTV footage.
Protests and Police Response
The press conference coincided with anti-abduction protests held in Nairobi and other urban areas. Demonstrators carried placards displaying the names and images of the latest victims, including Gideon Kibet, Ronny Kiplagat, Steve Kavingo Mbisi, Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, Bernard Kavuli, and Kelvin Muthoni.
In Nairobi’s Central Business District, police used tear gas to disperse protesters, leading to businesses shutting down as fear of looting spread. Protesters insisted on the peaceful nature of their demonstrations, while police demanded they disperse, citing the lack of permits.
Fresh Wave of Abductions
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reported 82 abductions since June, with 29 individuals still unaccounted for. Rights groups, lawyers, and opposition politicians have expressed alarm over the increasing number of enforced disappearances, accusing security forces of illegal detentions targeting government critics, particularly after youth-led anti-government protests in June and July.
Public Outrage Grows
The latest disappearances, primarily involving young men critical of the Kenya Kwanza regime, have drawn widespread condemnation. Human rights organizations and opposition leaders are calling for transparency, justice, and the end of what they describe as “clandestine operations” by unidentified armed individuals.
