Human Rights Watchdog Reports 1,376 Arbitrary Arrests, 74 Enforced Disappearances In Kenya
According to a new study released by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), 1376 people were arbitrarily arrested across the country between June 18 and November of this year.
According to the report, 74 cases of enforced disappearances occurred within the same time period, with 26 persons still missing.
On Wednesday, KNCHR Vice Chairperson Raymond Nyeris criticized the magnitude of the government’s human rights breaches, claiming that the majority of the abductions and arrests were carried out by security forces.
He connected the incidents to the historic anti-government rallies, which claimed the lives of nearly 30 individuals.
According to the commissioner, the Human Rights Commission registered 610 cases of protester injuries caused by firearms, tear gas canisters, and other types of police abuse.
We are prepared to reclaim our country from a regime that is selling us to the highest bidders, including foreigners and private individuals.
— KHRC (@thekhrc) November 20, 2024
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“The commission has documented 1376 arbitrary arrests and 610 cases of injuries from June 18 to November 2024. The injuries were sustained in the course of demos and range from deep fractures, bullet wounds, soft tissue injuries and inhalation of teargas,” he said.
“Most of the injuries were inflicted by the security officers against protesters. 25 injuries inflicted on security officers by protesters.”
Nyeris denounced the incidents, warning that the State’s actions risk returning the country to its darkest days.
“The rising cases of abduction and enforced disappearances are an affront to human rights tenets that our country ascribes to. We continue to witness and record the cruel, degrading and inhumane treatment of persons taken against their will,” he said.
“The daring happenings recorded on videos and photographs some even displaying civilian and security agent number plates are rapidly taking the country back to the dark days of our history.”
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The Gen Z protests in June claimed the lives of more than 40 people, however, civil society groups estimated 61 deaths.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who was the Interior Cabinet Secretary at the time, rejected the findings, claiming that 42 Kenyans perished during anti-government protests from June to August.
Kindiki appeared before the National Assembly Security and Administration Committee, explaining that the Committee got a report giving the information of 30 people who were killed during protests.
Human Rights Watchdog Reports 1,376 Arbitrary Arrests, 74 Enforced Disappearances In Kenya
