NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has strongly condemned the recent wave of abductions, torture, and killings across the country, calling for an immediate end to the escalating violence.
Speaking on Monday during an ODM prayer event at the Bomas of Kenya, Odinga emphasized that he would not stand by as such atrocities continue.
“This issue of kidnapping people, abducting youths, detaining them, and killing them must come to an end in our nation,” he said.
Odinga also questioned the lack of accountability, noting that while the police have denied any involvement in the disappearances, the perpetrators remain unknown.
In January, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen dismissed claims of state involvement in the abductions, stating that the government has no policy sanctioning enforced disappearances.
He reiterated that anyone arrested by law enforcement must be presented in court within 24 hours.
“The National Police Service has confirmed to us that it has not arrested anyone and failed to take them to court as required by law,” Murkomen said, adding that the police operate independently and are not influenced by political figures.
The concerns over abductions have been mounting since mid-2024, with human rights groups and political leaders raising alarm over the safety of young people across the country.
In December, President William Ruto acknowledged the crisis and assured Kenyans that the government was committed to ending the abductions.
He vowed to restore security, particularly for the youth, while also urging them to be disciplined and law-abiding citizens.
