More leaders pile pressure on William Ruto over abductions

Several leaders are now accusing the government of sponsoring the abductions and attendant extrajudicial killings in the country.

Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka has joined those calling for an end to the trend and an establishment of a commission of inquiry to probe the spate of disappearances of youths that started after the Gen Z protests in June last year.  

Saying the abductions and killings are State-sponsored, Kalonzo now joins Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justine Muturi, Chief Justice Martha Koome and her predecessor David Maraga who have roundly condemned the heinous acts.

Ms Koome said the violations of Kenyans' rights through adductions, forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings bring anxiety and trauma to families. 

“Why would somebody decide to kill another one, cut them into pieces, put them in a bag and throw them in a dam? It is upon us to condemn those acts in the strongest terms possible,” the CJ said when she visited Thika Law Courts on Friday. 

“Kenya is a country under the rule of law. We have statutes and penal procedure codes which define every crime. So those committing a crime should be brought to court and charged, but not be held incommunicado,” Koome said.

READ: Former CJ Maraga: State-linked abductions, killings expose Kenya Kwanza's legitimacy

On Saturday, Kalonzo, flanked by his party officials and Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa, visited City Mortuary in Nairobi to console the families of the abductees, some of whom have since been killed and said only a commission of inquiry will unravel the abductions mysteries.

“This country needs an independent commission of inquiry into these illegal, illegitimate, and unfortunate abductions, not one established by President (William) Ruto. It must involve the Opposition and, if they are not willing, we will establish our own,” Kalonzo said.

The leaders demanded that the government produce the still missing abductees, dead or alive.

“No one can wish away this issue of State-sponsored killings. This is a serious matter. Why are we allowing young men and women to be killed while pretending to resolve conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo? What kind of country is this?” the former Vice President said.

Kalonzo proposed that the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) take the lead in the formation of the commission of inquiry, arguing that “we cannot leave it to Ruto, because he is an interested party.”

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At City Mortuary, families of the abductees whose whereabouts remains unknown recounted the nightmare they encountered in search for their loved ones. 

The families of Kalani Mwema and Stephen Mbisi visited the morgue for the seventh time with the hope of finding the bodies of their kin among the unidentified ones at the facility. 

“The previous day, we were told to come back and see if our kin could be one of the two unidentified bodies We have not been attended to since 7am. We are stranded,” said Kalani’s sister Monica Mwende. 

“We have suffered. We have walked in all the places we thought of to no avail. Our lives and businesses have stopped as we look for our brother. If we won’t find him here, perhaps there will be some glimmer of hope to see him alive again. We hope God will show mercy upon us,” Stacy Mutua, Mbisi’s sister said.

It is more than 40 days since the two were abducted alongside their two friends whose mutilated bodies were found at the morgue last Thursday. 

“We are pleading for justice. Let them tell us if we are waiting for bodies or living human beings. We are confused,” Ms Mutua said. 

Speaking yesterday, Kalonzo, who was also accompanied by Kitui Senator Enock Wambua, Kitui County Woman Representative Irene Kasalu and former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, said that Kenya is a country governed by law and must not spiral into lawlessness.

“It is too heavy a price for the country to pay,” he warned, adding that the commission, which should include State and non-state actors, such as the Opposition, clergy, and civil society, would make far-reaching recommendations on the way forward, identifying those responsible and ensuring accountability.