1,376 arbitrary arrests, 74 enforced disappearances recorded since June in Kenya - KNCHR Report

A total of 1376 people nationwide have faced arbitrary arrests between June 18 and November this year, a new report by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has revealed.

The report has also recorded 74 cases of enforced disappearances in the same period, out of which 26 people are still missing.

KNCHR Vice Chairperson Raymond Nyeris on Wednesday decried the gravity of human rights violations by the government saying that most of the abductions and arrests had been perpetrated by the security organs.

He attributed the cases to the historic anti-government protests which led to the deaths of over 30 people.

According to the commissioner, the Human Rights body recorded 610 cases of injuries meted out to protesters through gunshots, teargas canisters and other forms of police brutality.

“The commission has documented 1376 arbitrary arrests and 610 cases of injuries from June 18 to November 2024. The injuries were sustained in the course of demos and range from deep fractures, bullet wounds, soft tissue injuries and inhalation of teargas,” he said.

“Most of the injuries were inflicted by the security officers against protesters. 25 injuries inflicted on security officers by protesters.”

Nyeris condemned the incidences warning that the actions by the State threaten to take the country back to the dark days.

“The rising cases of abduction and enforced disappearances are an affront to human rights tenets that our country ascribes to. We continue to witness and record the cruel, degrading and inhumane treatment of persons taken against their will,” he said.

“The daring happenings recorded on videos and photographs some even displaying civilian and security agent number plates are rapidly taking the country back to the dark days of our history.”

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki who at the time was the Interior Cabinet Secretary disputed the findings insisting that 42 Kenyans died during the anti-government protests between June and August.

Appearing before the National Assembly Security and Administration Committee on Thursday, Kindiki explained that the Committee received a report detailing the information of 30 people who were killed during the protests and the circumstances around which they died.