The Kenya African National Union (KANU) party has confirmed that its digital communications officer Cornelius Ronoh is missing.
In a statement, published on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, the party communicated that Ronoh was abducted on Monday evening of October 7, 2024, in Fedha, Embakasi East in Nairobi County.
Additionally, the party Director of Communications Manasse Nyainda stated that Ronoh was kidnapped outside a barber shop he patronizes near Nyayo Gate B located within the Fedha area.
“We’ve received a report this morning that Cornelius Ronoh, who serves our party as a digital communications officer, was brazenly abducted last evening outside the barber shop he patronizes near Nyayo Gate B in Fedha, Embakasi East,” Nyainda confirmed.
Condemning his abduction, the party stated that Ronoh, who is an active commentator on political affairs within the country was targeted for his online commentary.
“Ronoh, an active digital political commentator, has become the newest victim of outright abductions of people civically engaged about the failure of the country’s public policy decisions,” Nyainda stated.
The party further stated that the kidnapping of people for articulating public policy issues affecting them through digital space to instil fear is unwarranted.
“The proliferation of gangland-style kidnappings of young people articulating public policy issues affecting them through digital spaces herald a grim future for the rule of law in this country. This desperate attempt to instil fear in the public and silence dissent is unwarranted, uncalled for, and has no place in our nation,” the party stated.
Legal action
The party said that it had engaged its lawyers and tasked them with reporting and pursuing the matter at the nearest police station in Embakasi East.
“As a party, we have dispatched our lawyers to report and pursue the matter at the nearest police station in Embakasi East. We unequivocally call on the authorities to produce Ronoh in any court of competent jurisdiction to stand trial if he is deemed to have committed any offence under the law,” the party said.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
— The KANU Party (@KANUParty_ke) October 8, 2024
STATEMENT ON THE ABDUCTION OF MR. CORNELIUS RONOH
We’ve received report this morning that Mr. Cornelius Ronoh, who serves our party as a Digital Communications Officer, was brazenly abducted last evening outside the barber shop he patronizes near Nyayo… pic.twitter.com/QbEkac8Zwn
