NAIROBI, Kenya- Demonstrations against the ongoing abductions and enforced disappearances of government critics spread across Kenya on Monday, as activists and citizens demanded answers.
From Nairobi to Mombasa, Embu, and even beyond Kenya’s borders, protesters braved police resistance to voice their concerns about the growing trend of mysterious disappearances.
In Nairobi, the morning began relatively calm, but tensions mounted by mid-morning. Tear gas was fired along Aga Khan Walk and at the junction of Moi Avenue and Kenyatta Avenue as police tried to disperse demonstrators.
Protestors wielding placards with the names of missing individuals maintained they were unarmed and peaceful, asserting that they had notified authorities about the protest, as required by law.
However, businesses in the CBD hurriedly shut down, fearing looters, as chaos unfolded in the streets.
Embu saw equally troubling scenes. Tensions flared over the December 21 abduction of 24-year-old Billy Mwangi, a college student who was seized by hooded men while at a barber shop in Embu town.
Witnesses recounted how four men bundled him into a white double-cabin pickup, telling him, “You will know later,” before speeding off.
His parents, Gerald Karicha and Regina Wairimu, expressed their anguish, with Ms. Wairimu pleading for his safe return and offering to apologize for any alleged wrongdoing on his behalf.
The incident sparked outrage, and when protestors gathered in Embu’s CBD, police responded with tear gas, leading to running battles that brought the town to a standstill.
In Mombasa, police dispersed demonstrators who had gathered at Uhuru Gardens. The county commander declared the protests illegal, escalating tensions and fueling frustrations among activists.
The protests highlight the growing public anger over a wave of disappearances. These include the cases of Gideon Kibet, Ronny Kiplang’at, Steve Kavingo Mbisi, Bernard Kavuli, and Kelvin Muthoni.
A recent KNHCR report reveals that 29 Kenyans have gone missing since the anti-Finance Bill protests in June, raising serious concerns about human rights violations.
The Kenyan diaspora joined the movement, with a group of protesters in Australia rallying in solidarity. Chanting slogans such as “Ruto Must Go,” they demanded the immediate release of all abductees.
The protests have drawn attention to the plight of missing persons and the ongoing struggle for justice and accountability in Kenya.
As tensions remain high, families and human rights defenders are urging the government to address the allegations and ensure the safe return of their loved ones.
