NAIROBI, Kenya- Despite mounting condemnation from human rights organizations, a disturbing trend of abductions has emerged in Kenya.
Notable social media influencers, doctors volunteering to attend to injured protestors, and activists have been taken from their homes by plainclothes men, only to be found later in police custody.
This wave of abductions has been ongoing since last weekend, raising serious concerns about the state of human rights in the country.
On Tuesday morning, prominent human rights activists, including Hanifa, reported that at least five leading figures had been arrested.
Among them were social media star Gabriel Oguda and Shad Khalif, who has now been detained for more than 24 hours.
These individuals have played pivotal roles in amplifying the voices of protestors on social media platforms, becoming key figures in the movement against the controversial Financial Bill 2024.
The abductions have however not deterred the movement, which remains largely organic and decentralized.
Mobilization efforts are spearheaded on platforms like TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), where detailed breakdowns of the contentious sections of the Financial Bill 2024 are shared.
This grassroots approach makes it difficult for authorities to stifle the protests, as there are no single leaders to target.
President William Ruto has acknowledged the right of Kenyans to protest, as enshrined in the constitution.
However, he has remained silent on the human rights abuses inflicted on protestors by the police.
This silence, some human rights activists say is a tacit approval of the heavy-handed tactics employed by law enforcement.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kindiki Kithure has issued stern warnings that police will act firmly against those who breach law and order.
However, the GenZ protestors, who have been at the forefront of these demonstrations, have been consistently unarmed and peaceful.
Their resilience and commitment to non-violence stand in stark contrast to the aggressive measures used by the authorities to quell their dissent.
A section of leaders say abductions and subsequent detentions of influencers and activists represent a chilling attempt to silence dissenting voices.
This bill, which has sparked widespread outrage, is seen as a direct threat to the economic stability of ordinary Kenyans.
The protestors argue that the bill disproportionately benefits the elite while imposing undue burdens on the working class and unemployed youth.
Their demands are clear: they want the bill rejected in its entirety, not just amended.
Security experts say the government’s response to the protests has only served to galvanize the movement further.
The heavy-handed tactics and abductions have highlighted the very issues the protestors are fighting against – a government that appears more interested in maintaining control than addressing the legitimate concerns of its citizens.
The Government has also been accused of shadow banning some popular hashtags agitating for rejection of the amendment bills according to a statement issued by 27 human rights organizations, among them Amnesty International Kenya.
