Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management Justin Muturi has waded into the debate on forced disappearances and abductions of government critics.
Speaking to the press on Sunday, January 12, 2024, Muturi lamented that his son is one of the victims of abductions.
“My son was abducted and disappeared. I was not sure whether he was alive or dead making us anxious and leaving me and my wife and the rest of the family in turmoil. At that time I was the attorney general of Kenya and a member of the National Security Council. Despite making several requests, I was unable to trace my son,” Muturi stated.
“Now, more than six months after the ordeal and his release by unknown forces, he has not been charged with any offence and the government at all levers has not been able to give me reasons for his abduction.”
Muturi has fingered the security sector for failing to stop abductions and forced disappearances, despite claiming that they are not involved.
“The security sector has said that they are not involved in the abductions but interestingly, they have failed to stop them as they are happening in full public glare. The president has equally said he would like to see the abductions end. Kenyans would like to know; how many of our youths have been taken in since the abductions started. How many have been released, how many are still being held and where they are being held,” he added.
According to Muturi, the government saying it does not know anything about the abductions amounts to it shunning its responsibility on accountability.
“The government cannot be excused for abdicating its duty of protecting the lives and the property of the people of Kenya,” he added.
IG Kanja on abductions
In December 2024, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja maintained that the police were not involved in the recent abductions of the youths criticizing President William Ruto’s regime.
In a statement on December 26, 2024, the police IG expressed concern over the matter insisting that the police are only mandated to arrest criminal offenders and not abduct.
He also stated that there is no police station in the country holding the reported abductees.
“The National Police Service is deeply concerned with the ongoing allegations that police officers are involved in abductions of persons in Kenya. For clarity, the constitutional mandate of the National Police Service is not to abduct, but arrest criminal offenders,” Kanja said.
“For avoidance of doubt, the National Police Service is not involved in any abduction, and there is no police station in the country that is holding the reported abductees.”
Criticising govt
Muturi says youths should be allowed to critic the government, saying it is part of the democratic discourse.
“If youths have issues with the government that they want to raise, let us allow them to do so because that is what democracy is all about. We are a democratic country. It is our cardinal duty as government to ensure that everybody lives freely and is able to say what they think including saying that they do not like me,” Muturi added.
Calling for the release of all abducted youths, Muturi said the abductions could plunge the country into chaos and anarchy.
“Since I am also a victim while serving in this government, I have taken this unusual step so that abductions and extra-judicial activities can be debated in the country in order to find a solution. If left unchecked, it can plunge the country into chaos and anarchy,” he added.
