Murkomen, Kanja summoned over rising abduction cases

The Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations wants the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, to answer questions over rising cases of abductions in the country.

The Senate Committee, chaired by Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo, in a meeting held on Tuesday in parliament buildings, expressed concerns over the growing number of abductions and hooliganism cases, warning that the trend was creating fear and undermining public security.

Dullo said that there was a need for decisive action, particularly as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election and that the rising cases and abductions and hooliganism, if allowed to persist, may lead to rising cases of insecurity in various parts of the country.

"It is a matter of concern that we are experiencing very many abductions cases across the country; for instance, in a county like Isiolo, about 10 people have been abducted, this is shocking and is creating fear among Kenyans and needs to be addressed urgently," said Dullo.

Nyamira Senator Okongo Omogeni said that the committee had a pending inquiry into the abduction of Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich and that it was a matter of concern that the Inspector General had sent apologies thrice over the matter.

Omogeni also raised concern over the recent abduction of Advocate Abshir Ahmedsadak Abdi and that it was a matter of concern that he had not been traced 10 days later and that this should not be allowed to continue and that the safety of Kenyans should be guaranteed.

The Nyamira Senator said that a wrong precedent is being set where citizens are not assured of their security and that Kiprotich and Abdi were abducted by individuals who appeared to be security personnel, yet security chiefs have not come out to explain clearly what is happening.

“We urgently need the Interior Cabinet Secretary and Inspector General of Police to appear before us and explain what is happening; we cannot have people being abducted without trace several days later yet we are an independent country,” said Omogeni.

Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda warned that the reported cases of abductions and hooliganism were damaging Kenya's international reputation, cautioning that the tourism sector could suffer if the Government failed to take decisive action against the vices.

Ojienda said that if someone has committed a crime, they should be arrested and taken to court rather than being held in some secret locations only to be released after being tortured, without citizens knowing what crimes they have committed.

“No Kenyan should be living in fear of abduction no matter their position in society, those who are guilty of crime should be taken to court and charged; we should not have people being held in secret locations for unknown reasons,” said Ojienda.

Murkomen, who appeared before the National Assembly plenary last week, denied that abductions were being done by state agents, saying that anyone involved in the unlawful disappearance of citizens is a criminal, regardless of whether they serve in the security agencies or not.

Murkomen told legislators that there was no government directive, ministry policy or security agency mandate authorising the abduction of citizens and that security officers involved in such acts were misusing their authority and should not be considered legitimate security personnel.

“I would like to inform Kenyans that any person who is abducting any citizen cannot be a security officer, even if he is serving within the security service, that person is a criminal because there is no government policy allowing abductions,” said Murkomen.

The Cabinet secretary said arrests must be conducted in accordance with the law, with suspects presented in court within 24 hours as required by the Constitution, maintaining that anyone operating outside the constitutional framework was committing a criminal act.

Murkomen told legislators that suspected abductions  and cases of missing persons were investigated individually, stating that the government would provide Parliament with updates on specific cases raised by lawmakers.

“I would like to inform Parliament that I have not been briefed on the investigation status of some cases before the House and would therefore respond in writing rather than give unverified information,” said Murkomen.

The Cabinet Secretary claimed that some reported abductions had been fabricated, particularly involving political leaders, saying those found to have made false claims had been taken to court.