Former Chief Justice David Maraga and People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua have reacted angrily to President William Ruto's seeming admission to abductions in Kenya, and called for thorough investigations and prosecution of the culprits.
The two also called on the government to ensure the Constitution is upheld.
In separate statements, Maraga and Karua criticised Ruto for what they termed as his otherwise nonchalant acknowledgement of abductions in Kenya. Most of the abductions were last year. They said Ruto made his statements despite the significant emotional toll it took on the victims’ families and loved ones.
Maraga took issue with Ruto announcing that there were no ongoing abductions and his subsequent vow to eradicate the vice. He cited the case of one Brian Odhiambo, who mysteriously disappeared while in the hands of Kenya Wildlife Service officers. The matter remains unsolved.
“It is unconscionable to hear the President claim, without any apology to the victims, parents, and families, that there are no ongoing incidents of enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings and that accountability mechanisms are in effect,” Maraga said.
“It is unconscionable to hear the President claim, without any apology to the victims, parents, and families, that there are no ongoing incidents of enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings and that accountability mechanisms are in effect,” Maraga said.
He added: “Brian Odhiambo’s mother continues to search for her son, who was abducted four months ago. There are many other similar cries for justice as we have seen in the petition launched on Mother’s Day by the parents of youth killed during the protests in June 2024.”
In the statement on Tuesday, May 13, Maraga went on to demand the upholding of the Constitution. He also demanded investigations carried based on recommendations of the May 1 Universal Periodic Review process in Geneva.
“I reiterate the recommendations emerging from the 1 May Universal Periodic Review process in Geneva for the government to expeditiously conduct impartial and effective investigations into the excessive use of force against protesters and bring those responsible to justice. We must demand that the promises of the Constitution be taken seriously, and human life be held sacred,” he averred.
The former CJ also pressured the government to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and adopt national legislation to prevent and criminalise enforced disappearances. This, Maraga said, was due to Kenya’s membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council.
On the other hand, Karua asked Ruto to acknowledge the role of security forces in the alleged abductions and enforced disappearances. She also wants the security forces who were captured on camera, as revealed by "Blood Parliament", a BBC documentary, brought to book.
“Now that William Ruto has acknowledged abductions, he needs to go further and acknowledge extrajudicial killings and disappearances and the role of security forces in this, and take steps to have the culprits, including those captured in the BBC documentary, held accountable,” she said.
Ruto, while speaking on May 12, opened a can of worms after he said every victim of abduction had been reunited with their families. He assured that cases of abductions, enforced disappearances, and killings would cease to exist.
On May 7, some ten Kenyan organisations released “Brutal Policing: 2024 Annual Report”, which disclosed an increase in incidents of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances (a total of 159 documented killings and enforced disappearances in 2024).
Out of these, 104 cases (about 65 per cent) were police killings, and 55 cases (35 per cent) were enforced disappearances.
