President William Ruto has acknowledged there have been instances of abuse by Kenya’s security forces amid rising tensions prompted by a series of alleged kidnappings that have left the nation in turmoil.
His acknowledgement comes as ongoing demonstrations, largely led by youth, demand accountability in the wake of unlawful detentions and reports of excessive use of force by police.
During his New Year’s address, Ruto stated, “It cannot be denied that there have been instances of excessive and extrajudicial actions by members of the security services.”
He did not elaborate on these actions, which have been condemned by human rights groups and citizens alike.
The unrest has escalated following the harsh crackdown on anti-government protests earlier in the year that sought to highlight numerous alleged disappearances of critics, particularly among the youth.
This past Monday, police violently disrupted peaceful rallies calling for the release of those reported missing, unleashing tear gas and detaining dozens, further inflaming public anger.
Demonstrators argue that the disappearances are part of a systematic effort to silence dissent, especially against individuals vocal on social media.
Ruto has recently vowed to “stop the abductions,” a statement interpreted by many as an acknowledgment of guilt regarding the actions of security forces.
In a controversial stance, he urged parents to take greater responsibility for their children, suggesting that the disappearances are linked to the moral decay of society exacerbated by digital manipulation.
The current crisis escalated when two young critics published an AI-generated image depicting the President in a coffin, spurring a wave of aggression from security forces, who have been implicated in a series of abductions amid heightened scrutiny.
A Nairobi court intervened on Monday, ruling that police must “immediately and unconditionally” produce five men reportedly taken by security personnel or explain their whereabouts under oath.
The courtroom was charged with emotion as families of the missing voiced their anguish, raising questions about the effectiveness of investigations into these disappearances, which police firmly deny.
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.