Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has confirmed that police are actively pursuing those responsible for the abduction of 29 individuals across the country since the recent Gen Z protests.
Speaking before MPs on Wednesday, IG Kanja disclosed that a total of 57 Kenyans have been abducted or kidnapped since the onset of nationwide anti-government demonstrations.
According to Kanja, out of the 57 victims, 22 were rescued alive, six were found murdered, and 29 remain in the hands of their captors.
He emphasized that police officers are not involved in these abductions, stating, “Police don’t abduct or kidnap people. Police conduct arrests and detain suspects legally.”
The police chief pointed to several arrests of public figures, such as Morara Kebaso, Jimi Wanjigi, and Macharia Gaitho, which were publicized as abductions, though he clarified these arrests were lawful and many youths have since been released or have cases pending in court.
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Addressing the aftermath of the youth-led protests, Kanja informed the National Assembly’s Committee on Administration and National Security that 495 police officers sustained injuries, exceeding the 347 recorded injuries among civilians during the demonstrations.
Over 1,552 protesters were arrested, with additional suspects caught on camera still being pursued.
IG Kanja, accompanied by Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat and Deputy Director of Criminal Investigations John Onyango, also reported 42 fatalities linked to the protests and subsequent unrest.
Discussing other recent cases, Onyango highlighted a murder investigation in Eastleigh, involving Ethiopian national Hashim Dagane Muhumed, who allegedly killed one of his three wives in Ethiopia before entering Kenya with a fraudulently obtained ID.
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The suspect, who does not speak Swahili, is also linked to another murder in Lang’ata.
Onyango also addressed the case of Willis Ayieko, a former Well Fargo HR manager, whose mutilated body was found in Yala, Siaya County on October 23. Onyango clarified that Ayieko’s murder was a result of robbery, revealing that a Kisumu boda boda rider had transported the three main suspects involved.
CCTV footage corroborated the rider’s account, showing the suspects visiting ATMs and M-Pesa outlets after the crime.
“This was purely a case of robbery,” Onyango confirmed.
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