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Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi’s sensational claim that the National Intelligence Service (NIS) was behind the abduction of his son last year has cast a dark spell on State security agencies.

The former National Assembly Speaker’s damning revelation that the incident happened when he was Attorney General captured national and global attention, dealing a stinging blow to the credibility of President William Ruto’s government in which Muturi serves.

Astonishingly, Muturi’s statement placed the President, the NIS director general, the former Interior CS who is now Deputy President, the Inspector General of Police and the head of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations on the spot.

Implanting a blight on the competence of these top security agencies, if not for reasons not yet disclosed to the public, the abductions of Muturi’s son and others, as well as the disappearances of others, incredibly happened six months ago, during Gen Z protests.

Why the authorities have failed to act to stop or bring the perpetrators to book has left little doubt in the minds of the public and observers as to who could be behind them.

This view is reinforced by continuing repressive acts often brazenly committed in broad daylight and raids on young men and other human rights activists by suspected security operatives.

Muturi’s accusation has heightened Kenyans’ deep resentment and anger at pronounced and subtle State reactions to mounting public outrage at the spate of abductions and other gross violations of human rights against citizens.

That President Ruto and NIS did not promptly react to Muturi’ allegations fuelled speculation as to the real motives of the conspiratorial nature of these repressive actions.

Muturi has dramatically achieved a victory for citizens in the shrinking space for democratic and constitutional guarantees in the face of Executive fiat. The State’s domineering presence in matters affecting wananchi who lent it power through the vote remains a contentious blemish in the national fabric, tainting Kenya’s image.

No matter how hard it tries to defend its actions and political and socio-economic track record, the harm has already been done in its responses to issues raised by the Gen Z protests that were massively embraced countrywide.

Failure to act on the continuing abductions and half-hearted responses side-stepping these glaring public concerns and Muturi’s stunning revelation should be a sobering wake-up call.

For all the reservations about his performance and impartiality during his tenure as Speaker and Attorney General, Muturi has vindicated himself on this one.

Whatever repercussions might befall the tell-it-all CS, including the axe, he is now a reinvented hero of democracy and a champion of freedom of expression.

The Executive has often been quick to accuse the mainstream and social media of agitating disaffection against the government. But citizens have dismissed this as “shooting the messenger” – blaming the bearer of bad news, despite the bearer or messenger having no direct responsibility for the bad news or its origin.

Muturi has confirmed that freedom of expression is a fundamental part of living in a free and open society and, above all, a basic need of every human being to attain happiness. Its absence has relevant consequences, not only for individuals, but also for the whole society.

Those in power beware – freedom of expression and other freedoms (conscience and religion, thought, belief, opinion, press and other media of communication, peaceful assembly and association) are an essential element of constitutional democracies.

— The writer comments on national affairs; [email protected]