The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has expressed alarm over the increasing cases of government critics being abducted in the country. Over the weekend, four individuals were reported missing, bringing the total number of abductions to 82 since the anti-government protests in June.
According to reports, four social media users went missing after sharing AI-generated images of President William Ruto that were considered offensive by government supporters. The rights commission has cautioned that Kenya may be regressing to the dark days of government critics disappearing, a phenomenon that was prevalent during the administration of the late President Daniel Moi.
The commission's chairperson, Roselyne Odede, emphasized the role of the police in ensuring the safety of Kenyans and called for swift action to address the abductions. Despite some incidents being captured on CCTV, no arrests have been made so far.
Rights groups have accused the country's police force of being behind the abductions, a claim that the authorities have denied. The police have stated that they are conducting investigations into the disappearances.
A joint statement by 21 human rights organizations has urged the police to hold accountable those responsible for the abductions, emphasizing the importance of upholding human rights and ensuring justice.
In a separate development, nine European envoys recently expressed concerns over enforced disappearances in Kenya and called on President Ruto to take action. This statement followed the abduction and repatriation of four Turkish nationals who had sought asylum, raising questions about the protection of asylum seekers in the country.
Kenya's election to the U.N. Human Rights Council in October has also drawn attention to the need for the country to address human rights issues and uphold international standards.
