Kenyan President William Ruto has promised an end to abductions, following the latest spate of disappearances that have been condemned by rights groups, lawyers and politicians.
Security forces in the East African nation have been accused of carrying out dozens of illegal detentions since youth-led anti-government demonstrations in June and July.
The latest disappearances have primarily involved young men who have criticised Ruto online, with rights groups dismissing police denials of involvement and calling for action.
Speaking to a crowd Friday in Homa Bay, a town in western Kenya, Ruto promised an end to the abductions but also told parents to “take responsibility” of their children.
“We are going to stop the abductions so that our youth can live peacefully,” he said, according to local media reports.
Ruto had addressed the issue in his annual state of the nation speech in November, condemning “any excessive or extrajudicial” action.
However, he said that a large number of the arrests were lawful detentions of “criminals and subversive elements”.
With the most recent kidnappings igniting small-scale protests in at least one town, the nation’s anger has only grown.
Activists have questioned why police don’t seem to be looking into the disappearances, despite police denying any participation.
“If indeed the police are not complicit,” the Law Society of Kenya said, they must immediately “investigate and prosecute those responsible”.
Earlier this year, Human Rights Watch stated that its investigation suggested a unit composed of many security agencies.
Ruto’s statements come after former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua claimed that a covert unit was responsible for the disappearances.
“Abducting these children and killing them is not a solution… This is the first administration in the history of this country to target children for repression,” Gachagua claimed.
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