Amisi: Abducting young Kenyans for speaking out is a stain on the nation
By Sharon Atieno, June 30, 2026Caleb Amisi has strongly condemned the rising cases of enforced disappearances in the country, warning that abducting young Kenyans for expressing their views is eroding the country’s democratic foundations and undermining constitutional freedoms.
In a statement shared on his X account on Tuesday, June 30,2026,Amisi accused those behind the abductions of turning fear and intimidation into tools of governance, insisting that Kenya cannot allow lawlessness to define its democracy.
“The enforced disappearances of young Kenyans whose only crime is speaking their minds are a stain on our nation’s conscience. Abducting citizens, holding them incommunicado, and returning them traumatised and tortured has no place in a constitutional democracy,” Amisi said.
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The legislator further demanded immediate legal action against individuals involved in the alleged disappearances, saying justice must be served for all victims.
“We demand the immediate prosecution of everyone involved, justice for every victim, and an end to the culture of impunity and state capture. Kenya belongs to its people not to fear, intimidation, or lawlessness,” he added.
Pressure mounts on oversight agencies
Khamisi’s remarks come amid growing national concern over an increase in reported abductions and alleged enforced disappearances, with pressure mounting on oversight institutions to investigate the incidents.
Earlier on Tuesday, constitutional lawyer Willis Otieno challenged Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to take urgent action, saying the agency could no longer remain passive as abduction claims continue to surface.
“IPOA cannot continue watching from the sidelines while allegations of abductions become a recurring feature of national life. Every reported abduction demands a swift, independent and transparent investigation,” Otieno said.
Rights groups raise fresh alarm
The latest criticism also follows claims by Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) that three individuals who disappeared during the June 25 commemorative protests were later found abandoned in Nairobi’s Hurlingham area, while four others remained missing.
“Three comrades who forcibly disappeared during the June 25 commemoration were found dumped around Hurlingham today at 5 am. Four others are still missing. We demand their immediate, unconstitutional release,” KHRC said in an earlier statement.
The developments have reignited debate over police accountability, with civil society groups and political leaders demanding urgent investigations into what they describe as a disturbing rise in enforced disappearances targeting government critics and young protesters.