The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) expressed strong believe that the state is involved the recent abductions of people who have been openly criticizing the Kenya Kwanza government, through their different digital platforms including X.
KNCHR Deputy Director of the Complaints and Investigations Directorate department Kamanda Mucheke, who is the second interested party in the case of the six abducted, further stated that the way the abductions and releases were done have similarities confirming they were carried out by the same person or entity.
“The commission believes that the 2nd to 8th Petitioners were abducted by the same person and/or entity due to the similarities in the style and manner within which the abductions and releases were done,” part of the KNCHR affidavit reads.
Appearing before Justice Bahati Mwamuye, on Monday, January 27, 2025, the commission said that the petitioners were not only subjected to physical but psychological torture which is a gross violation of their freedom from torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, a non–derogable right under Article 25 of the constitution.
Further, the commission stated that before petitioners Peter Muteti, Benard Kavuli, Billy Mwangi, Gideon Kibet and Rony Kiplangat were released, they were threatened not to talk to anyone on what they went through while under their custody or else they will be abducted again.
“Prior to their release, the petitioners were warned not to speak about their ordeal to any person-natural or legal entity, failure to which they would be recaptured,” KNCHR affidavit reads.
However, the commission states that they were unable to get Peter Muteti’s statement as he could not give details of his ordeal because he was still shaken from what he went through and needed some psychosocial support.
KNCHR says abductees were tortured
According to the KNCHR findings, the abductees were also physically tortured, questioned about their criticism towards the government and threatened to delete the posts on their social accounts.
The petitioners also confessed of their hair being shaved contrary to their will, stripped and stayed naked for a couple of days before their clothes were returned to them having been washed.
Before they were released the petitioners were also given transport money ranging between Ksh2,000 and Ksh3,500 to take them to their respective homes.
During the court proceedings, the petitioners led by the Law Society of Kenya, and Katiba Institute among other interested parties emphasized the importance of the missing persons being produced in court alive or dead.
