Kenya’s Abduction Victims, Survivors Indulge ICC As Local Investigations Falter
Following their release from captivity, abduction victims made a number of claims to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In a statement released on Sunday by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), the victims allege to have been continuously threatened and bullied into silence, preventing them from speaking out about their experiences.
KHRC accused the government of muffling the voices of abduction victims.
“Victims and survivors of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killing have come forward to expose how the state has been tracking and intimidating them into silence following their participation in protests against the government,” a statement from KHRC read.
#PressStatement
— KHRC (@thekhrc) February 2, 2025
Victims and survivors of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killing have come forward to expose how the state has been tracking and intimidating them into silence following their participation in protests against William Ruto’s authoritarian rule and… pic.twitter.com/ot6Fp28dt1
The commission’s critical declaration was supported by statements from abduction survivors who described their ordeals after supposedly being taken in August of 2024.
One of the accounts was that of Bob Njagi, Aslam Longton, and Jamil Longton, who were taken on August 19 and have been gone for longer than a month.
According to the trio’s allegations, following their release, they have been pursued by unknown individuals whom they presume to be security personnel.
“For days, a car was parked outside my workplace with two occupants – a man and a woman- inside at all times. The exact vehicle also trailed Aslam and Jamil,” a statement from Bob Njagi said.
The activist claims the vehicle in question is a black Subaru Outback.
ALSO READ:
- NTSA Launches New Traffic Fines System for Minor Offences
- Gov’t Sued Over Proposed U.S Ebola Quarantine Facility in Kenya
- Controversial Coptic Church Founder Is Dead
- Education CS Issues Fresh Orders For Utumishi Girls Students
- UTUMUSHI GIRLS FIRE: Parents Expose School Dorm’s Feeble Structure
KHRC’s requests included a thorough inquiry into the instances of kidnapping victims and survivors such as Bob Njagi, Jamil Longton, Aslam Longton, Justus Mulwa, Martin Mwau, Steve Mbisi, and Kalami Mwema.
The KHRC, together with the abduction survivors, demanded that Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin be held personally responsible for the crimes perpetrated during their tenure.
Their third demand read, “We call on the International Criminal Court to intervene because the issue of human rights violations is no longer a domestic issue.”
Finally, the victims reiterated that; “Kenya must ratify and domesticate the international covenant to protect all persons from enforced disappearances”.
Kenya’s Abduction Victims, Survivors Indulge ICC As Local Investigations Falter
