In Kenya, concerns are mounting over a recent wave of kidnappings and enforced disappearances, allegedly involving law enforcement. On December 25, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), tasked with monitoring Police conduct, issued a statement raising alarm and announcing the launch of an investigation into the incidents.
Two high-profile disappearances have sparked outrage on social media. Peter Muteti and Billy Mwangi, both active and popular on platform X, were forcibly taken last weekend by unidentified men in a vehicle. Their abduction followed their recent publication of AI-generated images depicting Kenyan President William Ruto in a coffin. As of Wednesday evening, December 25, their whereabouts remained unknown, along with three other Kenyans reportedly abducted in recent days, according to local media.
In its statement, the IPOA highlighted four cases of disappearances in December, including those of Muteti and Mwangi. The agency expressed deep concern over what it described as “an increase in kidnappings presumed to involve members of the national police” and urged the police chief to address the issue decisively.
On December 24, during a television interview, Kenya’s police chief emphasized that law enforcement’s role is to arrest suspects, not to abduct them. He assured the public that all reports of disappearances are investigated thoroughly.
However, criticism from civil society continues to grow. The Working Group for Police Reforms, a prominent organization advocating for accountability, condemned the kidnappings and called out the authorities’ responsibility. Activists and citizens are demanding transparency and swift action to address these troubling developments.