NAIROBI, Kenya — On Monday, a notable opposition figure, Senator Okiya Omtatah, was among those detained during protests in Kenya that demanded an end to supposed abductions of government adversaries. These incidents have alarmingly targeted younger critics of the administration in recent times.
Omtatah joined hundreds of individuals who gathered in the streets of Nairobi, calling on the authorities to release seven individuals who were reported missing earlier this month. The tension escalated as police deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd, leading to the senator’s arrest when he, along with a group of protesters, refused to move and linked arms with a lengthy chain.
Concerns regarding the surge in reported kidnappings of those opposing the government have been voiced by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. Their recent report stated that there have been 82 reported abductions since the onset of anti-government demonstrations in June. In response to these alarming figures, President William Ruto asserted over the weekend that his government is committed to putting a stop to these abductions to ensure the safety and peace of the youth.
While rights organizations allege that the police force is implicated in these kidnappings, law enforcement agencies have denied these claims, promising an investigation into the disappearances. Senator Omtatah has taken further legal action as he filed a petition in the High Court in Nairobi, urging the government to release the seven youth he believes were unlawfully abducted by police. “If they have committed a crime, let them be prosecuted and presented in court to defend themselves,” he stated.
Protesters expressed their support for those who had been taken, emphasizing that they stand together against this growing fear of being targeted for merely voicing their opinions. One protester, Orpah Thabiti, mentioned, “We are existing at a time where we have to live in fear.”
Additionally, reports emerged of four social media users who went missing after posting AI-generated images of President Ruto that were considered inappropriate by some government supporters. The rights commission has cautioned that the nation might be regressing into the oppressive scenarios reminiscent of the regime of former President Daniel Moi, during which the abduction and torture of opposition activists was alarmingly prevalent.
