Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, joined by other opposition figures, has issued a strong demand for the release of youths allegedly abducted and detained unlawfully over the past three months.
During a press briefing at the SKM Command Centre in Nairobi, Kalonzo emphasized the urgency of locating 29 individuals still missing. “As the People’s Loyal Opposition, we insist on the immediate release of all 82 youths taken over the last three months and their safe return to their families,” he stated.
Kalonzo accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of reviving oppressive practices by targeting young people for sharing their views, creating artistic content, and posting online. He expressed frustration that masked abductors, clearly captured on CCTV, remain unapprehended.
Protests against abductions, organized by the opposition, unfolded across Nairobi and other cities. In the capital’s Central Business District, police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators, causing businesses to shut down amid fears of looting.
Carrying placards with the names of victims, protesters highlighted cases of enforced disappearances, including Gideon Kibet, Ronny Kiplagat, Steve Kavingo Mbisi, Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, Bernard Kavuli, and Kelvin Muthoni.
These demonstrations come amid heightened concern from human rights groups, lawyers, and political leaders over a spike in abductions targeting critics of the government. Reports suggest security forces have carried out illegal detentions since youth-led protests in mid-2024.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) revealed that 82 individuals have been abducted by unidentified armed individuals since June, with 29 still unaccounted for. Seven abductions occurred after December 17 alone, fueling public outrage.
Kalonzo reaffirmed the opposition’s commitment to seeking justice, promising to escalate efforts to hold the perpetrators accountable and end what they describe as state-sanctioned abductions.
