KENYA : Activities in Embu Town came to a standstill on December 27, 2024, after protests by a section of residents who took to the streets demanding the release of social media influencer Billy Mwangi who was allegedly abducted.
Billy Mwangi went missing on the afternoon of Saturday, December 21, after being forcibly taken from a barbershop in Embu town.
Witnesses reported that four masked and armed men alleged to be police officers abducted him, bundling him into a double-cabin pickup truck before speeding off towards the Embu-Nairobi Highway.
Reports further suggested that Billy may have been abducted by the alleged officers due to a social media post that some considered inappropriate.
Since his abduction, Billy’s father Gerald Mwangi has pleaded with security agencies and even President William Ruto, asking him to intervene if the government was involved in his son’s disappearance.
Following the disappearance, residents of Embu on Friday took to the streets in solidarity with the social media influencer and his parents.
Residents held placards, while others set tyres on fire along the road, blocking sections of the street and bringing businesses to a standstill.
Traffic flow along the Embu -Kiritiri road was also disrupted by the irate residents.
Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Eric Theuri had on Thursday revealed that Billy’s mother is currently hospitalized after her son went missing.
In a statement, Theuri said that he spoke with Billy Mwangi’s father who expressed deep frustration and hopelessness in his voice.
According to the father, Billy’s mother is in the hospital due to the emotional distress caused by her son’s abduction.
“I have spoken with the father of Billy Mwangi. The frustration and hopelessness in his voice are heart-wrenching. He informs me that the mother is unwell and admitted to the hospital as a result of his abduction. I have assured him that we will petition the court for a write of habeas corpus. It’s the least we can do,” Theuri stated.
Since Saturday, the family has conducted searches across the county with no success.
Mwangi is among youths who have been allegedly abducted this month after making controversial social media posts targeting President Ruto and his government.
Other youths reported missing include cartoonist Kibet Bull, his brother Ronny Kiplangat, Benard Kavuli, and Peter Muteti.
The four cases, however, are just the tip of the iceberg, as the incidents have been witnessed since the wake of the anti-government protests in June.
Their abductions have been widely condemned by many Kenyans, including political leaders, religious figures, civil society groups, and various institutions.
The Judiciary also released a statement denouncing these abductions and urged security agencies to protect citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms.
In the statement, the Judiciary affirmed that abductions have no place in law adding that they are a direct threat to the rights of citizens
“The Judiciary has taken note of recent reports regarding resurfaced abductions. Kenya is a constitutional democracy, where the rule of law is a foundational value and guiding principle of our governance. Abductions have no place in law and are a direct threat to the rights of citizens.
In light of these reports, we strongly urge security agencies and all related entities to adhere to the law in order to safeguard fundamental rights and freedoms,” the statement read.
The Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja on Thursday, December 26, responded to reports of police involvement in increased wave of abductions witnessed in the country.
In a statement, Kanja denied the allegations linking police to recent abductions witnessed in the country.
“The National Police Service is deeply concerned with the ongoing allegations that Police Officers are involved in abductions of persons in Kenya. For clarity, the Constitutional mandate of the National Police Service is not to abduct but arrest criminal offenders,” read part of his statement.
Kanja explained that according to the Service Standing Orders, all arrests must be recorded in the Occurrence Book. Those arrested are then to be arraigned in court, or released from custody if they do not meet the procedural threshold for detention.
Kanja reiterated that the National Police Service is not involved in any abductions, stating categorically, “There is no police station in the country holding the reported abductees.
However, he cautioned social media users to be responsible when posting information online, even though the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression.
“While Kenya is a democratic country that upholds freedom of expression, this freedom comes with certain limitations and should always be exercised with the utmost responsibility,” Kanja warned.
Further, the Inspector General urged the public to avoid spreading false, fabricated, malicious, and misleading information that could harm the reputation and image of the National Police Service.
He stated that matters concerning abductions are under investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and other independent organizations.
He also encouraged anyone with information about a missing person to report it to the nearest police station.