In a rare admission, Kenyan President William Ruto publicly acknowledged the abuse of power by the country’s security forces, following an outcry over alleged kidnappings and human rights violations. In his New Year’s address on Tuesday, Ruto conceded that there had been “instances of excessive and extrajudicial actions” by security personnel, though he refrained from offering specific details.
This statement comes in the wake of youth-led protests accusing security forces of abductions, particularly in response to heavy-handed tactics used against demonstrators in June and July. The government’s crackdown on peaceful protests included tear gas, mass arrests, and widespread fears of enforced disappearances.
While Ruto emphasized the importance of maintaining public safety, his comments have done little to calm growing concerns over the government’s handling of these cases. Human rights advocates have expressed outrage at the lack of thorough investigations into the disappearances, with court orders for the release of abducted individuals largely going ignored.
The latest wave of disappearances predominantly involves young critics of Ruto’s administration, including two individuals who posted a controversial AI-generated image of the president. Ruto, in his address, tied these incidents to the rise in digital manipulation, warning of the moral dangers posed by social media.
Despite international pressure, including from Human Rights Watch, the government’s response remains tepid. As of now, 29 individuals remain unaccounted for, fueling calls for justice and accountability from both the government and security forces. The growing public frustration suggests that the pressure on Ruto’s administration is far from over.
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