The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights wants enforced disappearances and abduction be made criminal ahead of Thursday planned anti government demonstration dubbed occupy parliament aimed at pushing the government for better government and reforms
The commission says 26 people are still missing since the onset of the demonstrations early this year with over 1376 arbitrary arrests made alone.
Speaking to the media, Vice Chairperson and Commissioner of Raymond Nyeris records 74 cases of enforced disappearances contrary to the figure given by the national police service
”We call for the criminalisation of enforced disappearances and the ratification of the international convention of the protection of all persons from enforced disappearances.” Nyeris said.
The commission Vice chairperson has also urged for the ratification of the international convention of the protection of all persons from enforced disappearances.
The commission while hailing the Inspector general of police for ceding grounds that indeed there were cases of abduction on Kenyans and extrajudicial killings has urged for the speedy prosecution of persons implicated in the vices
”The commission has documented 1376 arbitrary arrests, 610 cases of injuries from June 18 to November 2024…Most of the injuries were inflicted by the security officers against protesters. 25 injuries inflicted on security officers by protesters. 74 cases of enforced disappearances in the period June to November 2024 out of which 26 people are still missing today.” the VC stated.
And following reports of disappearance of Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights condemned abduction of persons seeking asylum in our Kenya noting that in liaison with other human rights it will the region is in compliance with human rights obligations
”We condemn any form of abduction of those people who seek asylum in our country. In relation to that matter, we take exception and as a commission working in liaison with other human rights institutions especially our sister commission in Uganda, we’ll get in touch so that we see how we can ensure our region is in compliance with human rights obligations,” Nyeris noted.
In a statement Kizze’s wife Winnie Byanyima wrote that her husband had been seized in Kenya’s capital Nairobi last Saturday during a book launch event.
Kizza Besigye used to be Museveni’s personal doctor but he went on to become an opposition leader and has referred to the leader of the east African country as a “dictator”.
He has alleged that previous presidential elections were rigged – a claim denied by the government.