Though President William Ruto has relentlessly denied his government’s involvement in the killings, abductions, arrests, forced disappearances and torture of persons behind the anti-Finance Bill protests, emerging details clearly indicate the buck stops with him.
Despite his denials and promises to ensure thorough investigations into the evil activities committed by some members of the police service believed to have been on assignment to put a stop to the widespread protests in the months of June and July, the government has kept a deafening silence on the matter.
To date, nobody has been prosecuted in connection with the abductions, forced disappearances, individuals killed by police bullets and arbitrary arrests, and nor has any senior government official or the security apparatus told Kenyans the individuals behind the heinous acts.
But the latest reports from the Kenya National Human Rights Commission and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority lift the lid on the disturbing tactics used by the police to suppress anti-government protests led by Gen Z activists.
The reports, tabled in the National Assembly, cover the period of heightened demonstrations against the government and shed light on how police forces employed covert operations and unmarked vehicles to carry out violent crackdowns without accountability.
Officers disguised in civilian clothing and travelling in unmarked cars were responsible for numerous incidents of brutality. This approach allowed police to blend into crowds and commit atrocities without being easily identified or held accountable.
The reports document cases of arbitrary arrests, violent assaults, and even extrajudicial killings during these operations, which were specifically aimed at quelling the growing unrest among young protesters.
Given that the reports were prepared and compiled by two credible autonomous government agencies, the development raises serious questions about the government’s stance and inaction regarding the arrests.
The government needs to investigate the authenticity of the widespread claims of atrocities and establish the truth.
