Kenyan human rights watchdog calls president's denial of suspected police abductions 'blatant lie'

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has condemned President William Ruto's recent remarks denying any knowledge of police abductions during anti-government protests, calling his comments a "blatant lie."

“The commission is aware that so far over 22 people have been abducted and 53 arbitrarily arrested, including doctors and lawyers. Others are in hiding due to threats on their lives by the police,” KHRC said in a statement.

“President Ruto's claim that he's unaware of any Kenyan forcibly disappeared by security agents during anti-government protests is a blatant lie. On this International Day of the Disappeared, William Ruto must be held accountable for these enforced disappearances that happened under his command,” the commission added.

During a town hall session on Thursday, President Ruto insisted he was unaware of any abductions, despite reports of dozens of individuals being taken by people suspected to be police officers since mid-June. He invited families of the missing to come forward with names so that his administration could take action.

“As I talk to you today, I don’t have a name of somebody who has been abducted or disappeared,” Ruto said while speaking at the town hall meeting in Kisumu, western Kenya.

The KHRC responded by highlighting numerous documented cases of forced disappearances and the suffering of affected families. The commission urged the government to conduct an independent investigation and take immediate steps to address the violations.

President Ruto had previously suggested that the Ford Foundation was involved in funding some of the protests that have rocked Kenya in recent months. His comments have raised concerns among various stakeholders, including the diplomatic community.

The protests, sparked by tax increases in the Finance Bill 2024, swept across Kenya in June and July, leading to the deaths of at least 50 people, according to authorities. The Ruto administration has faced intense scrutiny over its handling of the protests, which also caused widespread property damage.