Itumbi: I am deeply sorry for victims of abduction during Gen Z protests
The head of the Creative Economy and Special Projects in the Executive Office of the President, Dennis Itumbi, has come out to strongly condemn the abductions that have taken place since the Kenya Kwanza government assumed power in 2022.
Speaking during a local podcast on Thursday, October 9, 2025, Itumbi said he feels deeply sorry for anyone who has undergone any form of abduction, especially during the Gen Z protests of 2024 and 2025.
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Itumbi said that while he condemns abductions, some of the reported cases were actually illegal arrests that were later misrepresented as abductions.
He noted that in several instances, the victims returned home safely, though the entire experience remained traumatic.
“I am sincerely sorry for anyone who has undergone an abduction or illegal arrest, because some of those things that were put as abductions were actually arrests.
“On the issue of Billy Mwangi, the man from Embu who got abducted, at least he came out healthy. I don’t want to state that this was a good abduction and this was a bad one.
“All abductions are bad. We wish all abductions to end because it should not happen to anyone, including my enemy,” Itumbi said.
Drawing from his personal ordeal
Itumbi went on to recall his own experience of abduction and torture in the run-up to the 2022 general election, when he was a vocal supporter of the then Deputy President William Ruto.
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He said his own ordeal taught him the importance of standing against all forms of enforced disappearances and political intimidation.
Human rights groups and Kenyans online have praised his admission, saying it marks a rare moment of reflection from a top government official.
Others, however, insist that the state must go beyond words and ensure justice for victims who remain missing or traumatised.
The statement by Itumbi comes amid renewed calls for accountability over cases of alleged abductions, which escalated during the Gen Z protests.
His words have since gone viral online, sparking debate about how the government plans to address the growing concerns over police excesses and human rights violations.
