Abductions during Finance Bill protests echo Moi-era brutality - LSK President Odhiambo

Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo has expressed grave concerns over recent incidents of police abductions amid protests against the now-withdrawn Finance Bill 2024.

Speaking on Citizen TV's JKLive Show, Odhiambo drew parallels to the authoritarian era of the late former President Daniel Moi, emphasizing instances of police brutality in the past and condemning the resurgence of such tactics among the ruling government.  

"This is shocking! I feel like we are going back to the Moi era; the last we heard of abductions and torture chambers. Our country is singing about and in the region people are praising Kenyans such abductions coming back. Some of the abducted persons have been released but others remain unaccounted for," she said.

Odhiambo further called for the immediate release of protesters in detention and urged accountability from law enforcement authorities, warning against a regression towards oppressive anti-democratic practices of the past.

"It's sad because once these people are released they are scared and unable to talk because of what they went through. They can't tell you whether they were held in a cell, arrested by the DCI or the NIS and they end up being released in the middle of nowhere," she said.

"How are we going to reconcile when we still have abductions ongoing even after the demos took place? I think it is high time that we rethink; the Inspector General of Police must ensure that any persons held must be released immediately."

Additionally, Odhiambo urged Police IG Japhet Koome to resign if he isn't incapable of enforcing the police's mandate to serve and protect.

"If you are telling us that you are not in control of NPS resign. We don't have any business of keeping you in office if you are incapable of carrying out your mandate. We cannot accept a situation that we are going back to the Moi days."