Muturi breaks silence, slams government over abductions, deaths

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi. [Standard, File]

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has criticised the government for failing to address abductions and unexplained deaths under the current regime.

Speaking during a press conference in Nairobi on Sunday, January 12, Muturi said the government had pledged during the last election campaign to end disappearances and extra-judicial killings but has failed to deliver.

"We vowed that we would never, under our watch, condone or allow such," Muturi said. "We stated this time and time again in the lead-up to the last general election."

Muturi's statement comes amid increasing criticisms from human rights groups, opposition leaders and civil society organisations over the rise in abductions and unexplained deaths.

Reports of missing persons, particularly youth, have sparked protests and raised concerns about the state's commitment to upholding the rule of law.

The former Attorney General shared his ordeal, revealing that his son was abducted while he was in office.

"My son was abducted and disappeared, I was not sure whether he was alive or dead, making us anxious and leaving me, my wife and my family in turmoil," he said.

"Now, more than six months after that ordeal and the release of my son, by unknown forces, he has not been charged with any offence and nobody has explained why he was abducted and held incommunicado."

Muturi remarked that despite government assurances, abductions persist in full public view.

"The security sector has said that they are not involved in the abductions, but interestingly they have failed to stop them as they are happening in full public glare," he said.

He pointed out that the security sector has not intervened effectively and questioned the government's claim of ignorance on the matter.

"The government cannot be excused for abdicating its duty of protecting the lives and property of the people of Kenya," he added.