British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan, has expressed concern that Kenya’s international image is suffering due to the high number of abductions, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings. He stressed that addressing these incidents is crucial for Kenya’s reputation as it assumes its seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council
The United Kingdom has called on President William Ruto’s government to undertake “swift and transparent” investigations into the alarming rise in alleged abductions and enforced disappearances in Kenya.
British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan, expressed concern that the country’s international image was suffering due to the high number of abductions, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings.
Wigan stressed that addressing these incidents was crucial for Kenya’s reputation as it assumes its seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council.
“Swift and transparent investigations into reported abductions will demonstrate Kenya’s commitment to fundamental rights, as it takes up its seat on the UN Human Rights Council,” Wigan said while hosting the families of five Kenyans who went missing late last year.
While top Kenyan officials, including President Ruto, have denied any state involvement in the abductions, many have been linked to state security agencies. The incidents have also sparked a political blame game, with some leaders accusing others of orchestrating the kidnappings for political gain.
A faction of President Ruto’s allies has accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of orchestrating the kidnappings to gain sympathy. Others have suggested that some victims may have staged their own abductions, fueling further controversy.
On Wednesday, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Director of Criminal Investigations Mohammed Amin failed to attend a court session to shed light on the disappearances. High Court Judge Bahati Mwamuye warned that Kanja would face immediate contempt of court sentencing if he failed to appear on January 27. Justice Mwamuye added that DCI Amin could also face sentencing but would be allowed to mitigate first.
Among those recently released is Gideon Kibet, a cartoonist known for his caricatures of President Ruto. Kibet was abducted in Nairobi on December 24, 2024, shortly after meeting with Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah. His family confirmed his safe return on Monday, stating that he had travelled back to Nakuru. On social media platform X, Kibet shared that he had been abandoned in Vihiga County around 3 a.m., where he sought refuge at a local “disco matanga” before securing a bus ride home.
Along with Kibet, four others were released on Monday, including college student Billy Mwangi, Kibet’s brother Rony Kiplangat, content creator Bernard Kavuli, and Peter Muteti. The abductees were freed in various locations, including Machakos, Kitale, and Nairobi’s city centre, many of them visibly shaken and frail. One individual, believed to have been abducted by state agents, is still missing.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has raised alarm over the growing number of enforced disappearances, documenting 82 cases since June 2024, with 29 people still unaccounted for.
In response to the crisis, President Ruto has directed the National Police Service to investigate the cases and provide answers to the affected families. “The National Police Service, being an independent body, is responsible for conducting investigations into these incidents,” Ruto stated during a recent funeral in Bungoma County.
Human rights organizations have condemned the abductions, demanding accountability from both security forces and political leaders. The mysterious nature of these incidents continues to fuel suspicions about the involvement of both state and non-state actors.
