The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Former Chief Justice David Maraga has criticized President William Ruto for failing to apologize to families affected by abductions and enforced disappearances.
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Maraga said the President’s recent remarks—claiming that all abducted Kenyans had returned home—were insensitive and painful to grieving families.
“It is unacceptable for the President to assert, without an apology to the victims and their families, that no more enforced disappearances or extra-judicial killings are occurring and that accountability is in place,” Maraga said.
He emphasized that such statements add to the anguish of parents still mourning their missing or deceased loved ones, questioning how long innocent lives in Kenya would continue to be treated with such disregard.
Citing the case of Brian Odhiambo, who has been missing for four months, Maraga highlighted ongoing cries for justice. He also referred to a Mother’s Day petition by parents of youths killed during the June 2024 protests against the Finance Bill.
President Ruto made the controversial comments during a joint press conference with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, assuring that enforced disappearances would not happen under his administration.
“All abducted persons have been reunited with their families,” Ruto stated, adding that he had issued clear orders to prevent such incidents in the future.
His remarks were in response to a journalist’s inquiry referencing concerns raised by rights groups.
According to a recent ‘Missing Voices’ report, 55 cases of enforced disappearances were recorded in 2024, with June marking the highest number at 15 during the anti-Finance Bill demonstrations. October saw 11 cases, while July and August each had seven.
The report also pointed out the difficulty in holding perpetrators accountable, noting that most abductions involved masked individuals in plain clothes using unmarked vehicles, making investigations nearly impossible.
