Kenyan police 'scolded' for claiming no Kenyans were kidnapped

The Kenya National Commission for Human Rights (KNCHR) has denied a report by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja that no Kenyans have been abducted in the country, saying that in the month of December alone, seven people, mainly social media users, have been abducted; and as of now, six are still missing.

KNCHR Chairperson Rosylene Odede said their commission continues to monitor a worrying pattern of kidnappings in several parts of Kenya. Odede explained in a statement: "The commission has determined that these kidnappings are being carried out covertly by unknown armed individuals. The commission further notes that the abductees have been critical of the (government), especially on social media."

He explained that there have been thirteen more incidents of kidnapping or disappearance of people in the past three months, bringing the total number of kidnapping cases to 82 from June 2024 to date.

The KNCHR statement emphasized: "The commission strongly condemns this kidnapping which is outside the Constitution. Kidnapping is torture, cruelty, humiliation and human abuse. It has no place in a democratic country like ours! The commission warns that if this pattern of kidnapping continues, then we will be rapidly returning to the dark days of our history where such incidents used to bring fear to anyone who criticizes the Government."

Ms. Odede also said that the commission is concerned about the statement issued by the Inspector General of Police on December 26, 2024, stating that the Police were not involved in the kidnapping.

The KNCHR Chairman has reminded us of the role of the Police Force in protecting everyone in Kenya and these brutal acts, especially since it was discovered that kidnappings are taking place in broad daylight, with some of those involved being caught on CCTV but so far no one has been arrested.