LSK Demands Release of Two Allegedly Abducted Bloggers

24 December 2024 – The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has called for the immediate and unconditional release of two young men reportedly abducted on Saturday, allegedly by police officers.

In a statement on Monday, LSK President Faith Odhiambo expressed concern over what she termed as repressive tactics increasingly employed throughout the year. She stated, “We demand that the police abandon these absurd tactics and immediately release Billy Mwangi and Peter Muteti, or present them before a court of law if there are any charges against them.”

According to witnesses, Muteti, aged 22, was forcefully taken by four armed men, one reportedly in police uniform, in the morning hours of December 21. He was allegedly bundled into a vehicle after posting and deleting an offensive image of President William Ruto on social media.

Mwangi, on the other hand, was reportedly abducted from a barber shop in Embu by masked men traveling in a double-cabin pickup truck.

Police have denied involvement in the abductions, an issue that has become a recurring concern following the Gen Z-led anti-government protests that began in June. Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja reiterated on November 11 that, “Police do not abduct or kidnap. We detain individuals in police stations for investigations and arraign those meeting the legal threshold.”

The LSK emphasized the government’s constitutional duty to uphold and protect fundamental rights. Since June, 57 cases of abduction have been reported, raising public fears about security and accountability.

The abductions have sparked public outrage, with citizens and rights groups calling for transparency and an end to the violations of basic freedoms.