A day after a section of the clergy called out the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja over the spate of abductions in the country, Deputy Government Spokesperson Gabriel Muthuma has added his voice on the matter, piling more pressure on the security boss.
Speaking to a local TV station on Monday, January 6, 2025, Muthuma argued that IG Kanja owes Kenyans explanations regarding the series of abductions in the country.
He noted that he would be pleased if lawmakers summoned him to shed light on the issue of enforced disappearances with Kenyans demanding answers over the whereabouts of satirist Kibet Bull, Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti and Bernard Kavuli who are among those who have been reported missing.
“The IG of police must come direct to the people and tell them what is going on. I would be honoured to hear parliamentarians invite him to seek clarity on the disappearances that we have been told,” Muthuma stated.
“I am troubled as a parent. I would really like for the lawmakers to invite the IG and seek to understand what needs to be done,” he added.
Defends Ruto
While calling for IG Kanja to be summoned, the Deputy Government Spokesperson Gabriel Muthuma absolved President Ruto from the abductions reports insisting that he had never called in to ask for favours from the police bosses or order them to silence his critics.
He thus insisted that the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja must bring closure to the matter.
“No single time has the President called on anybody to carry out anything, a favour or otherwise,” Muthama made it clear.
Ruto distances himself
His remarks come after Ruto distanced himself from the issue of abductions.
Speaking in Bungoma during the burial of Speaker Moses Wetang’ula’s mother on Friday, January 3, 2025, Ruto told the mourners that the Inspector General of Police and the National Police Service (NPS) should answer questions by Kenyans on recent cases of abductions in the country.
The President, however, said the law shall not be applied selectively and urged the youth to be responsible in their use of social media.
“The National Police Service, being an independent body, is able to conduct investigations,” Ruto said.
IG had earlier come out and announced that the National Police Service is not responsible for the abductions raising a critical question regarding the country’s security.
Following his statement, a section of the clergy wants the country’s police boss to step aside if he cannot account for the recent cases of abductions reported in the country
