The Leader of the Majority in the National Assembly, Kimani Ichung’wah, has warned leaders against inciting the public by claiming the government is involved in abducting its critics.
Ichung’wah refuted allegations that the government targets individuals based on their social media activity.
“They use teargas on themselves and then rush to talk about abductions and demonstrations, trying to mimic events from June 25,” he commented.
The Kikuyu MP emphasized that the government does not silence critics, highlighting that any online offenses fall under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018.
“Why mislead Kenyans with abduction claims? Where were you when bodies were being dumped in River Yala?” Ichung’wah questioned, referencing incidents where at least 40 bodies were recovered from the river between July 2021 and January 2022, according to a March 2023 report by Missing Voices.
He stressed that the government has no intention of harming its critics, adding, “We are not threatened by social media. You’re free to write whatever you want about us.”
Ichung’wah further alleged that some critics fabricate abduction stories to cover up personal escapades.
“Some individuals disappear for days with their girlfriends in Airbnbs and later claim they were abducted,” he said. “Even some elected leaders are considering going into hiding to create a false narrative of being kidnapped.”
He also accused certain groups of using teargas at their own meetings to falsely blame the government for disruptions. “Why would teargas be necessary to disrupt a gathering of just three people? These meetings resemble those held by MCAs,” Ichung’wah concluded.
