NAIROBI, Kenya- Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has condemned the recent spate of abductions targeting government critics, drawing parallels to the dark days of Kenya’s one-party rule.
In a fiery statement, Sifuna accused elements within the government of attempting to resurrect oppressive tactics reminiscent of the KANU era.
“You can see there is a lot of nostalgia from the old KANU hawks to go back to the day where you would just abduct someone and throw them into a prison without trial,” Sifuna remarked, highlighting the chilling impact of the disappearances.
Over the past year, abductions of critics and activists have cast a shadow over Kenya’s democratic gains.
Dozens of individuals have been taken under unclear circumstances since June.
Five of those who were abducted in December 2024 have since been released after public protests.
They were all youthful Kenyans accused of using their social media platforms to criticize the government.
But the Nairobi Senator said, “freedom of expression extends to insults.” The youthful victims of abductions among them a cartoonist are among those accused of being disrespectful to leaders.
Sifuna’s comments come amid rising public outcry and fears of a coordinated effort to stifle dissent.
Sifuna warned against the erosion of constitutional freedoms, urging Kenyans to defend their hard-won rights.
“This is not 1980. This is not the generation they used to sell fear to. The Kenyans of today understand their constitutional rights,” he declared, underscoring the resilience of the nation’s legal framework.
The senator emphasized that the government’s energy should be directed toward fulfilling campaign promises rather than intimidating its critics.
“The only way for any elected leader to win re-election is to do the things you promised to do for Kenyans. It is to make the life of Kenyans better,” Sifuna stated.
According to Sifuna, the administration’s increasing hostility towards critics reflects a growing realization that it cannot meet its promises.
“Now that they understand that it is going to be impossible for them to deliver on any of the promises that would make Kenyans look at them favourably, they are now openly threatening to violate the constitution and the rights of Kenyans,” he said.
Sifuna accused the government of resorting to fear tactics to silence dissenters and deflect attention from its performance.
He urged the public to remain vigilant and resolute in defending democratic principles.
