NAIROBI, Kenya — NARC-Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua has leveled serious allegations against President William Ruto, claiming he is complicit in an escalating wave of abductions targeting vocal critics across the country.
In an interview with Spice FM, Karua contended that the Kenya Kwanza administration has increasingly deployed “intimidation tactics” to suppress dissent, alleging that some individuals are taken by state operatives to undisclosed locations, only to reappear days later in distress or worse.
Karua decried the alleged disappearances, pointing to recent cases like that of activist Boniface Mwangi, who was reportedly abducted from his home in Machakos County.
He was later released, but Karua said his case exemplifies the administration’s campaign to “instill fear” in those who oppose government policies.
According to her, Mwangi’s supposed “crime” involved encouraging Kenyans to carry the national flag at the Stanchart marathon — a symbolic act Karua says the government unfairly branded as incitement.
“The Ruto regime has created an environment of fear and intimidation, targeting individuals merely for expressing contrary opinions,” Karua remarked. “Abductions like these cannot happen without knowledge or approval at the highest levels, and they are emblematic of a government disregarding legal frameworks to stifle dissent.”
Karua further alleged that social media has been pivotal in raising awareness about these incidents, attributing the release of some individuals to public pressure sparked online.
“It’s thanks to viral media coverage that some of these individuals, like Mwangi, have resurfaced. If they were truly taken to police stations, why were families not informed and charges read at the time of arrest?” she questioned, suggesting that secrecy around these detentions points to a broader, state-sanctioned agenda.
Her comments come on the heels of Amnesty International’s July report, which documented 32 cases of abductions, 627 arrests, and 361 injuries during protests against the Finance Bill 2024.
The rights group highlighted that many of those abducted were not formally charged or booked at police stations, instead held incommunicado without access to families or legal counsel.
Amnesty’s findings, along with Karua’s remarks, underscore mounting concerns over police conduct, especially toward younger activists in the recent Gen Z protests.
While President Ruto has dismissed accusations of abductions linked to his administration, human rights groups argue that the evidence points to a deliberate strategy.
In an August town hall in Kisumu, President Ruto challenged critics to produce names of any missing persons, saying, “…If you know anyone who disappeared after a protest, we are ready to address it.”
Karua, however, dismissed this response as inadequate, suggesting it reflects a broader pattern of disregard for constitutional protections.
In an interview with Spice FM, Karua contended that the Kenya Kwanza administration has increasingly deployed “intimidation tactics” to suppress dissent, alleging that some individuals are taken by state operatives to undisclosed locations, only to reappear days later in distress or worse.
Karua decried the alleged disappearances, pointing to recent cases like that of activist Boniface Mwangi, who was reportedly abducted from his home in Machakos County.
He was later released, but Karua said his case exemplifies the administration’s campaign to “instill fear” in those who oppose government policies.
According to her, Mwangi’s supposed “crime” involved encouraging Kenyans to carry the national flag at the Stanchart marathon — a symbolic act Karua says the government unfairly branded as incitement.
“The Ruto regime has created an environment of fear and intimidation, targeting individuals merely for expressing contrary opinions,” Karua remarked. “Abductions like these cannot happen without knowledge or approval at the highest levels, and they are emblematic of a government disregarding legal frameworks to stifle dissent.”
Karua further alleged that social media has been pivotal in raising awareness about these incidents, attributing the release of some individuals to public pressure sparked online.
“It’s thanks to viral media coverage that some of these individuals, like Mwangi, have resurfaced. If they were truly taken to police stations, why were families not informed and charges read at the time of arrest?” she questioned, suggesting that secrecy around these detentions points to a broader, state-sanctioned agenda.
Her comments come on the heels of Amnesty International’s July report, which documented 32 cases of abductions, 627 arrests, and 361 injuries during protests against the Finance Bill 2024.
The rights group highlighted that many of those abducted were not formally charged or booked at police stations, instead held incommunicado without access to families or legal counsel.
Amnesty’s findings, along with Karua’s remarks, underscore mounting concerns over police conduct, especially toward younger activists in the recent Gen Z protests.
While President Ruto has dismissed accusations of abductions linked to his administration, human rights groups argue that the evidence points to a deliberate strategy.
In an August town hall in Kisumu, President Ruto challenged critics to produce names of any missing persons, saying, “…If you know anyone who disappeared after a protest, we are ready to address it.”
Karua, however, dismissed this response as inadequate, suggesting it reflects a broader pattern of disregard for constitutional protections.
