NYERI, Kenya — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused the government of orchestrating a campaign of abductions to intimidate dissenting voices, particularly among the youth.
In a statement on Friday, Gachagua alleged that recent incidents of reported abductions are part of a calculated strategy to discourage young Kenyans from speaking out against the administration, as they did during protests against the Finance Bill, 2024.
“If you speak out against the government, you will be picked up by the now-famous Subaru boys and disappeared,” Gachagua said, referencing a term often used to describe covert police operations.
“The purpose of this message is to intimidate young men and women and discourage them from voicing their concerns.”
Despite his sharp criticism, the former DP said the alleged strategy would fail, insisting that Kenyans cannot be silenced through fear.
Gachagua claimed that during his time in office, he opposed the use of force as a means of governance and expressed these concerns both publicly and privately to President William Ruto.
“I took every opportunity to speak against those who believed that force is a viable strategy to manage Kenyans. I made my position known privately many times and even spoke publicly,” he said.
He further alleged that nearly 100 Kenyans have been abducted recently, with most still unaccounted for. Some senior security officials, he claimed, have privately admitted to the incidents.
The accusations come amid rising public concern over a surge in reported abductions, particularly targeting young people.
However, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has denied any involvement by law enforcement agencies.
“For avoidance of doubt, the National Police Service is not involved in any abductions, and there is no police station in the country holding the reported abductees,” Kanja said in a statement on Thursday.
He added that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) would investigate the claims and urged anyone with information about the missing individuals to report to the nearest police station.
The alleged abductions have sparked widespread condemnation, with civil society groups and political figures demanding accountability.
Gachagua warned that such tactics could further alienate the government from the public.
“The recent incidents show how disconnected the current administration is from the reality of where Kenya is today,” he said.
