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Willis Otieno accuses Ruto of doublespeak on abductions
26th September, 2025 07:36 AM
Constitutional lawyer Willis Otieno, on Friday, September 26, 2025, accused President William Ruto of doublespeak on matters of abduction.
Referencing his latest speech during the United Nations General Assembly conference in New York, Otieno wondered how the Head of State had the audacity to condemn abductions in Haiti while the situation at home tells a different story.
Also watch: Willis Otieno blames Ruto, says State House is now a hub of corruption and backroom deals
Otieno said Kenyans continued to face unresolved cases of missing persons, yet the President had never issued a strong public statement on the matter.
Otieno blasts Ruto
“Ruto says abductions in Haiti are unacceptable and unjustifiable. True. But are abductions acceptable in Kenya, since you have never condemned them here at home?” Otieno wrote on X.
The lawyer argued that enforced disappearances had become a constant feature of governance under the current administration. He accused the President of focusing on foreign policy while ignoring domestic insecurity.
“Under your watch, enforced disappearances have become a constant feature of governance. Families are still searching for answers. Justice has not been served,” Otieno wrote on X.
Also watch: Willis Otieno claims Kenya Kwanza government is broke, punishing Kenyans
Otieno’s remarks quickly gained traction on social media, with many Kenyans echoing concerns over accountability.
Analysts noted that his statement had the potential to fuel debate on the government’s human rights record.
Critics said the silence on abductions at home was in sharp contrast to the bold statements made abroad.
Ruto condemns abductions in Haiti
During his address at UNGA in New York, President Ruto had declared that gangs in Haiti could be neutralised and that safety on the streets could be secured.
He said harassment, abductions and criminal acts undermining the lives of Haitians were unacceptable and unjustifiable and must be stopped.
Kenyan police officers have been in Haiti since 2024 as part of the Multinational Security Support mission.
The deployment was meant to help restore order in the Caribbean nation following rising violence and kidnappings.
“Gangs in Haiti can be neutralised and the safety of streets secured.
“The continued harassment, abductions and criminal acts undermining the lives of Haitians are unacceptable, unjustifiable and must be stopped,” Ruto told global leaders during the UNGA conference.
Ruto’s remarks at UNGA renewed global attention on the mission and underscored Kenya’s role in international peace efforts.
Back home, however, Otieno’s criticism highlighted the contrast between the President’s global image and the domestic challenges of security and human rights.
