PEOPLE

In response to a statement issued by the Catholic Bishops on November 14, with respect to recent abductions, IG Kanja has finally responded. The IG started his statement by disclosing that during the anti-government demonstrations, the country suffered massive losses. According to him, the losses ranged from death to destruction of property and livelihoods. He noted that NPS recorded 495 injuries to police officers, 347 injuries to civilians, and 42 civilian fatalities. “Following the public demonstrations that were witnessed in the country from june 18 to july 2024 against the proposed finance bill 2024, our country suffered massive losses ranging from death to destruction of property and livelihoods.NPS recorded 495 injuries to police officers, 347 injuries to civilians, 42 civilian fatalities and 69 cases of serious damage to government vehicles.” Talking on the matters related to femicide, Kanja noted that the police service had recorded 97 femicide deaths in the past three months.  According to the police boss, in most of the cases reported, the police service had already completed investigations, identified those involved in the murder of young girls and women, and arraigned them before the court. IG Kanja’s clarification comes a few hours after the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops criticised President William Ruto’s administration over allegations of rampant corruption, extrajudicial killings, over-taxation, and unkept promises. The bishops had stated that they were shocked by the government’s failure to resolve the recurrent cases of abductions, forced disappearances, and extra-judicial killings. They maintained that the decision by the government to remain silent on cases of abductions and murder particularly of young girls and women resulted in great consternation, anger, and disgust among Kenyans. “Many families are grappling with the loss of their children who were brutally killed and went missing following what is referred to as the Gen Z demonstrations in June 2024. Many of them had raised concerns about rampant corruption, who is behind these abductions?”