The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Renson Ingonga, has recently expressed concern over reports of abductions and forced disappearances in Kenya.
Issuing a press statement Sunday night, the DPP highlighted at least five cases of suspected abductions reported in December 2024, with victims still unaccounted for.
“It is apparent from the reports that there have been at least five (5) such suspected cases of abduction in December 2024 alone, with the victims said to be Bill Mwangi, Peter Muteti Njeru, Bernard Kavuli, Gideon Kibet aka Kibet Bull, and his brother Ronny Kiplagat, each of whom is yet to be traced after having been picked up by unidentified people in questionable circumstances,” the DPP said.
He went on to direct the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to expedite investigations and submit reports within three days for review and potential action.
“I have also noted the Press Statements released by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) on 25th December 2024, indicating investigations into the various abduction incidents, and the clarification by the Inspector General of the National Police Service (NPS) on 26th December 2024 on the alleged cases of abductions by the NPS, in which both institutions separately gave an undertaking to investigate the incidents, noting the gravity of the allegations, and the immense public interest that the same has drawn. I have, pursuant to Article 157 (4) of the Constitution, directed both the Inspector General of Police and the IPOA to expedite the investigations touching on reported cases of abductions and alleged forced disappearance of citizens, and forward the resultant files for perusal and action, and/or provide an update on the investigations, within three (3) days from the date hereof,” he added.
His statement coincided with an online campaign from Kenyans who were calling for nationwide protests against abductions on Monday, December 30.
Recently, Embakasi East Member of parliament Babu Owino wrote a letter to National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula to put security stakeholders in the country including Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen to book.
Notably, while addressing the issue, CS Murkomen denied any police involvement in the abductions, stating that anyone arrested by the police ought to be taken to court within 24 hours.
