Human Rights Watch claims DCI squad OSU formed by Ruto behind abductions

The recent surge in abductions of Kenyan youth, coupled with the enforced disappearances of citizens from neighboring countries, has sparked outrage among human rights activists.

During the launch of its 35th edition of the world report on Thursday, Human Rights Watch Africa attributed these enforced disappearances to a shadowy government-linked special squad, reminiscent of the disbanded Special Service Unit (SSU) under the previous regime.

The activists allege that this new unit, known as the Operation Support Unit (OSU), has been behind a series of kidnappings and disappearances.

Otsieno Namwaya, East Africa Director of Human Rights Watch, said: “(President William) Ruto disbanded SSU and formed OSU which is doing exactly what the SSU was doing.”

According to the report, 83 young individuals have recently been abducted, with 26 still missing - deepening concerns over the erosion of human rights and the rule of law in Kenya.

The human rights defenders also accused the Kenyan government of facilitating the abduction of foreign nationals who are seeking refuge in the country, tarnishing its reputation as a safe haven.

Mausi Según, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch Africa, stated: “It is almost a boys club situation where one president calls his brother and says this guy from my country who is in your country is disturbing me why are you allowing it to happen…”

Citing the case of Tanzanian activist and editor Maria Sarungi Tsehai, the organization expressed deep concerns over what it described as a troubling pattern of cross-border collaboration among heads of state to violate human rights.

“What happened to Maria Sarungi here in Kenya was very instructive…they couldn’t hold her as the ultimate plan was to take her to Tanzania,” Según added.

Activists further pointed to the cases of Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye and the forced expulsion of Turkish nationals in November last year, accusing Kenya of leading the notorious list of countries complicit in human rights violations.

Según noted: “People who are fleeing repression must have a safe haven in this world…Kenya used to be that place…”