Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has delivered a powerful rebuke of the government’s handling of abductions targeting young Kenyans. Speaking to the press on Sunday, Muturi shared his personal anguish over his son Leslie Muturi’s kidnapping in June 2024, an experience that has shaped his unrelenting calls for accountability.
Muturi recounted the emotional turmoil his family endured when Leslie was abducted in Nairobi’s Lavington area. Although his son was eventually released, the former Attorney General revealed that he has never received any explanation about the abduction, despite his access to national intelligence at the time. The lack of answers, he said, has left a scar on his family and shattered his faith in the country’s security agencies.
“The silence from the government is deafening,” Muturi said, his frustration evident. “I’ve lived through the pain of not knowing why my son was taken, why he was tortured, or why no one has been held accountable. This is not just my family’s story—it is the story of many Kenyan families.”
Human rights groups report a troubling trend, with over 80 Kenyans abducted since June 2024. Many of the victims, including vocal critics of President William Ruto’s administration, have disappeared during anti-government protests. Recent cases include five individuals—Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, Bernard Kavuli, Rony Kiplangat, and cartoonist Gideon Kibet, known as Kibet Bull—all of whom vanished after posting content critical of the government.
While the victims’ accounts hint at state involvement, the National Police Service has denied any connection to the abductions, further muddying the waters. Muturi, however, is unyielding in his demand for answers, insisting that those responsible must be brought to justice.
The situation has been compounded by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin, and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, who recently ignored court summons to address the abductions. Their absence has only deepened public mistrust and intensified calls for action.
Muturi’s plea for transparency and justice has resonated across the country, with civil society groups and political leaders rallying behind his demand for an inquiry into the abductions. The Cabinet Secretary warned that the government’s failure to act decisively risks eroding what little public confidence remains in the country’s security apparatus.
“This cannot go unchecked. The abductions have shaken the foundation of our society, and the government must demonstrate that no one is above the law. Kenyans deserve better,” Muturi declared.
His remarks are a stark reminder of the growing crisis, with the weight now on President Ruto’s administration to restore faith in its ability to protect its citizens.
