Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has urged the national government to release the protesters of the ongoing anti-government demonstrations.
In a statement on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, Omtatah stated that the enforced disappearance of individuals since the beginning of the countrywide protests not only undermines the rule of law but also instils fear and uncertainty.
Omtatah further called upon the government and the security agents to cease the unlawful practices.
“Enforced disappearance, as defined by Article 29 of the Constitution, undermines the rule of law and instils fear & uncertainty among the populace. The government should immediately cease these unlawful practices and release all individuals who have been arbitrarily detained,” Omtatah said.
While quoting the Constitution, the senator stated that every Kenyan citizen has the right to freedom and security of the person adding that they should not be deprived of freedom arbitrarily or detained without trial.
“Every person has the right to freedom and security of the person, which includes the right not to be deprived of freedom arbitrarily or without just cause; detained without trial, except during a state of emergency, in which case the detention is subject to Article 58,” Article 29 of the Constitution states.
Enforced disappearance, as defined by Article 29 of the Constitution, undermine the rule of law and instil fear & uncertainty among the populace.
The government should immediately cease these unlawful practices and release all individuals who have been arbitrarily detained.… pic.twitter.com/llzrBaDHMS
— Okiya Omtatah Okoiti (@OkiyaOmtatah) July 17, 2024
IPOA on abduction
On July 12, 2024, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) urged members of the public to share more information on unlawful arrests, abductions, and forced disappearances during the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests.
In a statement shared on X, IPOA disclosed that it has been unable to access some of the victims of unlawful arrests and abductions.
“The victims have since been found alive with allegations of harassment and torture. IPOA is unable to access victims of these unlawful arrests, abductions, and disappearances. It therefore requests victims and any other relevant eyewitnesses to come forward and record statements to facilitate speedy investigations of these allegations,” IPOA said in the statement.
Allegations of Police Involvement in the Unlawful Arrests, Abductions and Disappearances. #PoliceAccountability#GuardingPublicInterestInPolicing ^EM pic.twitter.com/BiiNSuA5H1
— IPOA (@IPOA_KE) July 12, 2024
