Abductees were given money, asked not to speak about ordeal; KHRC tells court

The money was reportedly intended to facilitate their return home, as they were allegedly abandoned in unknown locations.

In seeking to hold the state accountable for the abductions, the commission’s lawyer stated that those abducted were subjected to torture. 

"The petitioners were stripped naked for several days, shaved, and physically assaulted," the court was told.

Appearing before Justice Bahati Mwamuye, the commission argued that the state was responsible for the abductions and that the National Police Service (NPS) should be held accountable.

Meanwhile, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), together with the Katiba Institute and other petitioners, are calling for the state to produce other missing persons, whether dead or alive. 

"The duty bearers have failed to produce the two in court, and the only way is for them to be held accountable because they have access to public resources and cannot claim they do not know their whereabouts,” LSK President Faith Odhiambo told court. 

Lawyer Dudley Ochiel noted that the two missing persons have been gone for over a month. 

"The respondents are in contempt of court; they have refused to release the two and have not complied with court orders," the court was informed.

During the mention, several video clips were shown in court, illustrating how the abductions occurred.

Lawyer Martha Karua remarked that abductions had become an epidemic in the country. Among the videos was one of President William Ruto stating that his government would end abductions, along with another showing plainclothes officers arresting Amnesty International Director Hughton Irungu.

"This is a case where we must show a pattern and demonstrate that the state has knowledge of the situation from the top," Karua said.