NAIROBI, Kenya — The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has called for a public inquiry into a wave of recent abductions, warning of a deeply troubling pattern of enforced disappearances carried out by unidentified armed individuals and a lack of accountability from the country’s security agencies.
IPOA’s appeal follows President William Ruto’s public admission that several victims of abduction had since been released—an acknowledgment that has only intensified demands for transparency on who carried out the operations and under what authority.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Committee on Administration and Internal Security on Monday, IPOA Chairperson Isaac Hassan urged lawmakers to lead the push for a formal inquiry, whether through a judicial commission or a public tribunal, to uncover the truth and deliver justice to victims.
“It’s time to set up a public inquiry into these incidents,” Hassan said. “These were not isolated cases. This was a coordinated operation. People were abducted in broad daylight by armed men who didn’t fear surveillance or reprisal.”
According to IPOA, abductees were held in undisclosed locations—some for days—and later released in ways that suggested the presence of a shadowy, organized force operating beyond normal law enforcement structures.
Hassan expressed concern that IPOA’s ability to investigate has been hampered by the apparent unwillingness of security leadership to take responsibility.
The Inspector General of Police has publicly denied that the National Police Service was involved.
“We oversight the police, and we’ve had people say they were abducted by officers. But the police say they weren’t involved. That leaves us in a difficult position unless Parliament intervenes,” Hassan told the committee.
IPOA CEO Elema Halake echoed the concerns, saying the police leadership must take responsibility for dismantling such covert operations and restoring public trust.
“We feel the National Police Service remains responsible to unearth the abductions. This is a major issue that the IG should take the lead on,” said Halake.
Pressure on IPOA and security agencies has intensified since President Ruto’s remarks, with Mandera South MP Hussein Abdirahman demanding clarity during the committee session.
“The President said abducted individuals have been released. But who was behind the abductions? Has IPOA investigated who carried out these acts?” Abdirahman asked.
Alongside the push for a public inquiry, IPOA is also advocating for the creation of a special court to handle police misconduct cases—similar to anti-corruption or land courts.
Hassan said such a court would help prioritize justice in cases involving police abuse, which have become alarmingly frequent.
He added that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has already begun assigning specific prosecutors to handle police-related cases.
“The ODPP has appointed prosecutors with experience in these cases. We are now asking that such cases be given priority and heard in a dedicated forum because they are a matter of serious public interest,” he said.
