DPP Igonga order IPOA, NPS to expedite probe against abductions as public outrage mount and planned protests
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga has now ordered the Inspector General of the National Police Service (NPS) Douglas Kanja and the civilian oversight body against police brutality, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to expedite investigations into the reported abductions and enforced disappearances of citizens even as public outrage mounts and planned nationwide demonstrations over the recent spate of gangland style kidnappings by security agents targeting social media government critics.
The DPP’s order comes days after president William Ruto pledged that his administration will end the abductions while in Homa Bay at the Raila Odinga Stadium.
In a quick dispatch to newsrooms yesterday, DPP Ingonga directed the two institutions to provide an update within three days.
“It is apparent from the reports that there have been at least three suspected cases of abduction in December 2024 alone with the victims said to be Bill Mwangi, Peter Muteti Njeru and Bernard Kavuli each of whom is yet to be traced after having been picked by unidentified people in questionable circumstances…noting the gravity of the allegations and the immense public interest that the same has drawn, I have, pursuant to Article 157 (40 of the Constitution, directed both the Inspector General of Police and IPOA to expedite the investigations.” Ingonga said.
A recent report Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) showed that at least 82 people have been kidnapped by “unidentified armed individuals” since the onset of anti-government protests in June, with 29 still missing.
Ingonga further stated that his office remains committed to carrying out its mandate in accordance with the rule of law.
This comes even as human rights organisations, lobby groups, youth, and survivors of this year’s abductions threatened to hold nationwide protests today, Monday December 30, 2024 to protests against ongoing abductions and enforced disappearances.
Yesterday, social media was awash with online mobilisation with proponents saying the demos will proceed as scheduled in all 47 counties.
The protesters argue that the demonstrations are aimed at pressuring the government to release those believed to have been abducted, end the arbitrary arrests, and address the demands made by Generation Z in June.
They demand the release of those abducted by security agents and an end to the ongoing arrests.
