Kenyan police detained dozens of demonstrators and a senator on Monday, using tear gas to disperse peaceful rallies protesting recent alleged abductions that have sparked widespread anger across the country. The protests were held in the capital, Nairobi, where activists condemned what they see as a resurgence of state-sanctioned disappearances.
Rights groups allege that the abductions, primarily targeting young people critical of President William Ruto, have been carried out by security forces, despite police denials. Protesters carried images of the missing, demanding their release and an end to the practice of illegal detentions.
The peaceful demonstrations faced heavy-handed tactics as officers fired tear gas into the crowd, detaining many, including Senator Okiya Omtatah Okoiti. Some protesters, singing the national anthem, refused to back down despite the escalating police response. “The citizens are not afraid to speak out, even though the intimidation is real,” Wako added.
Among the detained protesters, 29-year-old Wanjiku criticised the police for targeting non-violent demonstrators, reiterating calls for President Ruto to step down. She declared, “This fight is far from over.”
The protest coincided with a Nairobi court ruling that police must “immediately and unconditionally” release five men reportedly abducted and present them in court. Judge Bahati Mwamuye instructed the police to explain their whereabouts or circumstances of detention under oath by Tuesday. The ruling intensified scrutiny of police actions, as activists questioned the lack of investigations into the disappearances.
Earlier this year, Human Rights Watch implicated a covert unit involving multiple security agencies in orchestrating the abductions, further fuelling public outrage. Despite President Ruto’s recent pledge to end such practices, the lack of tangible progress has only deepened dissatisfaction.
