Willis Otieno warns abductions will escalate if Kenyans stay silent
By David Nthua, July 1, 2026Lawyer Willis Otieno has warned Kenyans against staying silent over abductions and enforced disappearances, saying failure to speak out will only embolden those behind the vice.
In a statement on X on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, Otieno said every Kenyan, regardless of political leaning, has a duty to condemn abductions in the strongest terms.
Willis Otieno on abductions
“If we normalise these abductions through silence, they will only escalate. Every Kenyan, regardless of political affiliation, has a duty to condemn them in the strongest possible terms,” Otieno said.
The lawyer further argued that any government that allows enforced disappearances and unlawful abductions weakens constitutional democracy.
“A government that tolerates enforced disappearances and unlawful abductions is attacking the very foundation of constitutional democracy. Fear must never become an instrument of governance,” he added.
Otieno said attempts to intimidate individuals would not silence the whole country if citizens remained united.
“They may intimidate individuals, but they cannot silence an entire nation.
“If we remain united and continue speaking out, the truth will always outlive repression,” he said.
Omollo response
Otieno’s remarks come after Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo dismissed reports linking the government to abductions of activists and government critics.
Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, Omollo said the government does not condone enforced disappearances and argued that some reported cases involved people who went into hiding before resurfacing.
“The cases that I would call purported abduction are people sleeping or locking themselves in their bedrooms and then they go out there,” Omollo said.
The Interior PS further said some incidents were being used to portray the government negatively.
“Mwishowe unapata ni watu walikuwa wamejificha kibinafsi… ama kwa ile kutafuta umaarufu, ama kujaribu kutuonyesha kwamba kama serikali hatuzingatii maslahi ya Wakenya ama tunadhulumu Wakenya,” he said.
Omollo also contrasted the current administration with the previous government, saying President William Ruto had been clear that abductions would not be tolerated.
“Hiyo mambo ya utekaji nyara ni mambo ilipitwa na wakati. Actually, katika ile serikali iliyopita, ndio tulikuwa na hiyo changamoto ya watu walikuwa wanatekwa nyara.
“Tangu tuchukue usukani, na Mheshimiwa Rais William Ruto has been very clear katika uongozi wake, hakutakuwa na mambo kama hayo,” he said.
Cherargei warning
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has also warned the Judiciary to be alert, saying some individuals may stage abductions to influence public emotion and court processes as the 2027 General Election approaches.
“I want to appeal to the judiciary that they must take note that there is an emerging trend in this country where individuals are self-abducting, and just as I can tell you this is not the last, as we go to the general election, you will see many people abducting themselves,” Cherargei said.
However, Cherargei said political differences should never be handled through unlawful actions.
“I do not agree with abductions; I have personally been abducted by the police, and I do not champion this at all. People should be summoned legally,” he said.
The debate has now placed the government, opposition leaders, security agencies and human rights defenders on opposing sides of a sensitive national conversation on security, dissent, police conduct and constitutional freedoms.
This comes amid debate regarding the Mathare-based activist Davis Lichuma, who disappeared and was later found, sparking uproar across the country.