The Kenya Judiciary has strongly condemned the recent abductions of citizens who have criticized President William Ruto and his government on social media.
In a statement posted on social media, the judiciary emphasized that abductions violate the constitutional rights of Kenyans.
“Kenya is a constitutional democracy, where the rule of law is a fundamental value and guiding principle of governance.
Abductions have no place in law and are a direct threat to citizens’ rights,” the Judiciary stated.
The judiciary further urged security agencies and relevant entities to uphold the law to protect citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms, in light of recent reports of abductions targeting government critics.
This statement follows public outcry over the disappearance of individuals who have used various forms of artistic expression, such as silhouette cartoons, AI-generated images, and memes, to criticize the president.
Among those reported missing are cartoonist Kibet Bull, his brother Rony Kiplangat, Bernard Kavuli, Peter Muteti, and Billy Mwangi.
In response to these concerns, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja addressed the issue on Thursday morning, asserting that the National Police Service (NPS) is not involved in the abductions and that no abductees are being held at police stations.
“For clarity, the Constitutional mandate of the National Police Service is not to abduct, but to arrest criminal offenders,” Kanja said.
He also criticized the public for spreading misinformation that tarnishes the reputation of the National Police Service.
“We appeal to the public to refrain from spreading false, fabricated, malicious, and unverified information aimed at damaging the image of the National Police Service,” Kanja added.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has announced that it is investigating whether police officers are involved in the abductions.
“If fault is found, the Authority will recommend prosecution, internal disciplinary action, or any other appropriate relief, and will make public the responses to these recommendations,” IPOA stated.
