Martha Karua claims abductions are sanctioned by President Ruto

Speaking on Spice FM, Karua explained that the Kenya Kwanza administration has become notorious for witch-hunting individuals who provide contrary opinions to their mandate. 

She questioned the manner in which those individuals are handled and taken to unknown locations, only to resurface days later either alive or in a body bag. 

"I believe the executives are aware of individuals who are being picked up. This is also sanctioned by William Ruto himself, it has become their signature way of operating. It is not once, not random, it is tens of people abducted, maybe hundreds," she said. 

"If you're in power, and suggest that those things are happening without you knowing, then obviously you're in slumber. You ought not to be there. There is no way this can happen without them knowing."

Karua referenced activist Boniface Mwangi who was arrested on Sunday morning after being taken out of his home in Machakos County. He was released on Monday morning. 

"The Ruto regime has a campaign of instilling fear intimidating Kenyans, and obliterating any contrary opinion. Look at Boniface Mwangi, he asked people to occupy the Stanchart marathon, not to do anything bad but to don the national flag. When we call people to plant trees is that incitement?" she posed. 

" If indeed one has committed an offence, there is a legal framework within which one can be picked and questioned but if you have been picked clandestinely, it's because you are a thorn in the flesh of the administration," she added. 

According to the Narc-Kenya leader, social media platforms have played a huge role in creating awareness over the abductions, leading to some of the individuals resurfacing days after vanishing. 

"It looks like Dr. Ruto has suspended the constitution without saying so. We cannot be having abductions by state agencies or police officers not in uniform who refuse to identify themselves or offence caused," she wondered. 

"Who do not disclose where they are taking someone. It is the fact that the media went viral, is the only reason they took Boni to Kamukunji. If they were taking him to a police station, why was it difficult to say so at the point of taking him?"

Her remarks come at a time when human rights groups have in the past condemned the Kenyan police officers over its conduct in handling the Gen Z protests. 

In July, Amnesty International reported 361 injuries, 627 arrests and 32 abductions during the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests. 

"Abductions and detentions differ from an arrest Many of those abducted by state officers were not read the charges against them or booked into a police station. Tens have been held incommunicado and denied access to their families, legal representation and medical assistance," Amnesty said. 

The situation was exacerbated when President Ruto laid claim that he was not aware of any abductions during or after the anti-government protests. 

"...as I talk to you today, I don’t have a single name of somebody who has been abducted or disappeared. The PS for Interior, Raymond, is here. Kama uko na jina ya mtu alienda maandamano na akapotea, haijulikana mahali yuko, tunataka jina yake, familia yake wakuje.Patia huyu mngwana hayo majina, we will deal with that situation," Ruto said during a town hall session in Kisumu on August 29, 2024.