Nairobi Senator and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna has criticized the recent wave of targeted abductions of young people, reportedly by state agents.
Speaking on a local TV station on Thursday, January 9, 2025, Sifuna called for the immediate cessation of these unlawful actions and urged the government to uphold the rule of law.
Sifuna expressed concern over the actions of state agents, noting that instead of arresting individuals suspected of breaking the law and subjecting them to due process, they have resorted to abductions. He highlighted that the lack of legal grounds for prosecution might be driving these illegal activities.
“The reason why they abduct these kids is because there is no law they can charge them under,” he stated.
The senator emphasized that if someone is believed to have committed a crime, they should be apprehended and taken to court for trial.
He argued that such abductions, coupled with instances of torture, amount to abuse of power and are a blatant violation of human rights.
During the interview, Sifuna also referenced President William Ruto’s past State of the Nation address, where the president acknowledged the importance of listening to citizens and condemned police killings. However, Sifuna criticized the president for not issuing an apology to the protest victims and their families.
“We in the Senate passed a motion, which I believe is the blueprint he needs to turn around his fortunes. The motion called for an end to police abuse of power, an apology for the children who were killed – including those outside Parliament – and new regulations for how police conduct themselves during protests,” Sifuna stated.
The senator highlighted that such reforms would restore public trust and ensure justice for victims of police brutality.
Abductions
Sifuna also said that being criticized, even harshly, is not a justification for abductions or torture.
“You should not be afraid of death or being depicted as a dead person. If somebody depicts you as a dead man, it is not something to cause you to abduct children,” Sifuna remarked.
The senator’s remarks refer to incidents where some of the individuals reportedly abducted shared AI-generated images criticizing President Ruto.
Among the victims are Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, and Bernard Kavuli, who were abducted after posting AI-generated images critical of the president.
While five of the abductees have since been released, others like Steve Mbisi remain unaccounted for, fueling public outrage and calls for accountability.
