Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has denied claims that the government is involved in the abduction of activists and government critics, insisting that the reported cases are either false or self-orchestrated.

Speaking in a presser on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, Omollo said the government does not condone enforced disappearances, arguing that some of the individuals reported as abducted had instead gone 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.

Self Abductions

He further accused some individuals of deliberately staging disappearances 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.

The Principal Secretary contrasted the current administration with the previous government, claiming that cases of abductions and enforced disappearances were more prevalent then.

“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.”

Cherargei warning on stage-Managed abductions

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has also urged the judiciary to remain vigilant, warning that some leaders are stage-managing these events specifically to manipulate public emotion and influence court proceedings.

According to Cherargei, there is an emerging trend in the country where people abduct themselves as the country moves towards the 2027 general elections. He appealed to the judiciary to take note of such abductions in the country.

“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 warned.

He insisted that political differences should never be a justification for extra-legal actions and that the rule of law must always prevail.

“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,” Cherargei said.