Are Kenyans safe? Koimburi's attack reignites abduction crisis

The abduction of Juja MP George Koimburi on Sunday has shone a spotlight on the Kenya Kwanza regime with a special focus on the safety of Kenyans, particularly the critics of the President William Ruto-led government.

President Ruto’s recent statement that all people who had been reported missing as a result of abduction had been safely returned did not sit well with Kenyans who alongside civil society took to social media to call him out.

“All the people who disappeared or were abducted have been brought back to their homes. I have given clarity that nothing of that nature will happen again,” said Ruto in a joint press conference with Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

Then the names of Ali Wako Godana, Emmanuel Mukuria, Peter Macharia, Daniel Kabungo, Kalani Muema and Steve Kavingo alias Mbisi began to resurface. They all went missing without a trace.

Ruto and Kenya Kwanza are seemingly running out of answers on who is behind the abductions since the police have denied having a hand in it but have never offered any answers or clue of who the abductors are.

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MP Koimburi was abducted from a Church service by people believed to be security agencies on Sunday at Mugutha, Ruiru constituency and his whereabouts were not known until yesterday morning.

He was found at a coffee farm in Kibichoi, Githunguri Constituency, writhing in pain and was taken to the Karen hospital.

According to the family lawyer and Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo, the legislator had been badly assaulted, poisoned and lost his ability to speak.

He said that they will sue Attorney General Dorcas Oduor, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and the Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin seeking to have Koimburi compensated.

“His crime is connecting the Honourable Rigathi Gachagua to a phone call and addressing the people at Juja,” said Maanzo.

The lawyer disclosed that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had not summoned the MP prior to their attempts to apprehend him on Friday, May 23.

“He is in court on some trumped up charges and we were to mention the matter on Wednesday (tomorrow).”

On his part, Gachagua claimed that the legislator was targeted by a special squad that had been formed to target him and elected leaders allied to him.

Without tabling any evidence and citing unnamed sources from the security sector, Gachagua alledged that the squad is under the command of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat and reports to Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen.

He went on to hail Koimburi as a hero saying that he had suffered for standing with Kenyans.