The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has called for the resignation of National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah over his stance on the recent abductions that have been witnessed in the country.
KHRC, in a press statement issued on January 6, 2025, also demanded the resignation of several leaders allied to the Kenya Kwanza government, including Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.
Other leaders whom the commission wants out of office are Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, Sirisia Member of Parliament John Waluke, his Kapseret counterpart Oscar Sudi, and Tiaty MP William Kamket.
KHRC on abductions
The leaders, according to KHRC, have made public utterances that seem to have endorsed the abductions that have been reported.
Ichung’wah has been accused of supporting claims made by Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli that the victims of abductions were abducting themselves for financial gains.
“Kimani Ichung’wa, the majority leader in the National Assembly, supported false claims by COTU’s Francis Atwoli that abductees were faking their abductions for financial gain. In what appeared to be an attempt to divert attention, Ichung’wa made startling claims about abductions and killings during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure, accusing a governor of orchestrating a scheme that led to dozens of missing persons’ bodies dumped in River Yala.
“Ichung’wa and Atwoli spoke in Bungoma on January 3 during the requiem mass of the mother of National Assembly speaker Moses Wetangula,” the statement read in part.
KHRC on Kingi
Kingi, on the other hand, has been accused of claiming that the government would resort to brutal tactics to firmly deal with youthful critics.
Waluke has found himself in the wrong hands with KHRC for stating that the abductions have been fabricated to tarnish President William Ruto’s reputation.
“During the same service, Amason Kingi, the senate speaker, said that the government would resort to brutal tactics to firmly deal with youthful critics, blaming their behaviour on a ‘lack of parental guidance’. He warned parents not to wail over their children when the government ‘takes action’.
“Sirisia MP John Waluke sensationally claimed abductions were “fabricated stories to tarnish the reputation” of Ruto’s administration despite overwhelming evidence that security forces were involved. He spoke in Bungoma on January 3,” KHRC stated.
KHRC wants Kamket to resign for mocking those criticizing Ruto’s administration, claiming that his side could extend Ruto’s term without facing any consequences.
The lobby group further argues that Sudi has openly supported the abduction of those sharing Ruto’s AI-generated satirical images.
“Tiaty MP William Kamket dismissed those calling for Ruto’s resignation through online satire as “lazy bones in bed” and warned that his side could extend Ruto’s term without facing any consequences. He made these remarks during the Kerio Valley interdenominational prayers at Tot, Elgeyo Marakwet, on January 5.
“At the same event, Oscar Sudi, the Kapsaret MP, openly supported the abduction of those sharing Ruto’s AI-generated satirical images. He said that, if he were the Interior CS, it would only take him three days to deal with those creating and sharing Ruto’s silhouette images through authoritarian actions,” KHRC said.
Murkomen, on the other hand, is being accused of dismissing the concerns raised about abductions and extrajudicial killings.
“These threats followed a denial from Kipchumba Murkomen, the Interior CS, that no abductions and extrajudicial killings were happening under Ruto’s watch. Murkomen’s statement trivializes the executions of young people who exercise their right to freedom of expression in agitation against a regime that is miserably failing them. He spoke in Bungoma on December 27,” the statement read.
DP Kindiki is said to have justified the use of excessive force by police against unarmed protesters, leading to deaths and abductions, during his reign as the Interior CS.
Violation of constitution
The state officers, according to KHRC, have terribly failed the constitutional expectations of leadership and integrity under chapter six of our constitution.
“These politicians seemed to have taken a cue from Deputy President Kindiki Kithure, who, in September of last year, justified the use of excessive force by police against unarmed protesters, leading to deaths and abductions. Kithure made these remarks during his appearance before the National Assembly’s security and administration committee.
“The comments these politicians made violated our constitution. State officers are bound by the national values and principles of governance, which include human rights, the rule of law, and democracy as espoused in Article 10 of the constitution. Article 9 declares that the principles in Article 10 apply to all state officers when making, interpreting, and applying laws and policies. Further, article 19 expects governance and leadership that is human rights-based for which the cited state officers have abrogated,” KHRC said.
Adding: “The KHRC warns the leaders mentioned in this statement and others that we are meticulously documenting all their public utterances that support the ongoing breakdown of the rule of law in Kenya, as exemplified by these abductions. At the right time, we are confident that they will all be held accountable. Further, the KHRC demands the immediate resignation of Ichung’wa, Kingi, Kamket, Sudi, Murkomen, Waluke, and Kindiki from their state offices over their utterances supporting abductions.”
