For families of abductees, it has been horror Christmas, not merry

A section of youth held a press conference blaming the government fpr an increase in cases of abduction on December 28, 2024. [Omondi Onyango, Standard] There is nothing more emotionally draining than spending the Christmas holidays with the whereabouts of a loved one unknown. This is the experience of many families whose relatives have been missing for days, or even months, after being abducted. Take the case of Monica Mwende's family. Her brother, Kalani Mwema, has been missing since he was taken by masked men on December 16 in Mlolongo. More than ten days later, Mwema has still not been found. When The Sunday Standard spoke to Mwende, her face betrayed her grief. She was visibly distraught, holding her brother's portrait. "I've visited all the police stations, including those in Kiambu and Nairobi, but everywhere I go, it's in vain... At some stations, we have been turned away and referred back to Mlolongo Police Station," Mwende told The Standard. The family remains baffled as to why Mwema, a "small-scale trader", was targeted. "He owns a small shop where he sells bags... We are asking for justice. Let those responsible release him, dead or alive," she said. READ: Take responsibility for your children, Ruto says on abductions Mwema's family is one of three in Mlolongo, and many others across the country, spending the festive season in anguish. Dancun Kyalo is enduring a similar nightmare after his brother went missing last Monday on his way to his workshop in Kamulu, Nairobi. "He was arrested by masked men posing as police officers. His phone has been switched off since, and he has not contacted anyone to disclose his whereabouts," said Kyalo. "I've been to all the police stations in Nairobi and the surrounding areas, but he has never been booked at any of them," he added. Another victim is Martin Mwau, who, according to relatives, was abducted in a similar manner in Mlolongo. His brother Ndeti recalls how Mwau was seized by masked men who blocked him on the road while he was riding his motorbike. "His phone went off immediately. We still don't know his whereabouts," he said,. For Justus Musyimi, life has become increasingly frustrating as hopes of finding his brother, Justus Mutumwa, grow dimmer each passing day. "I don't know how anyone can operate in broad daylight, abducting people without the police being aware. If it's not the police, then the government should tell us who is responsible for this," he said. He added: "It is so painful to spend a week or more not knowing where your relative is, with no way to reach them by phone." These are just a few of the more than 13 families in distress due to the mysterious disappearance of their loved ones over the past three months, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). Other youths still missing include social media users Steve Kavingo Mbisi, Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, Bernard Kavuli, Rony Kiplang'at, and Gideon Kibet, alias Kibet Bull. ALSO READ: Lobby groups call for countrywide protests over abductions The spate of abductions has sparked public outrage, with lobby groups calling for a fresh round of protests to pressure the government to release the abductees and end the troubling trend. "We join all patriotic Kenyans in calling for nationwide protests on Monday to demand justice and accountability," the Kikao lobby group announced on Friday. In an interview with Citizen TV, ODM leader Raila Odinga condemned the acts, pointing the finger at the State. "I don't want to see people being molested because they hold different opinions from others," he said. The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has called on the families of the abductees to come forward and provide testimonies about the abductions. "This data will enable us to document the circumstances surrounding each case of abduction and disappearance, initiate appropriate legal proceedings where rights violations have occurred, and facilitate advocacy at both national and international forums to hold perpetrators accountable," said LSK President Faith Odhiambo last Friday.

For families of abductees, it has been horror Christmas, not merry

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Stand With Bold Journalism.
Stand With The Standard.

Related Topics

Popular this week

Latest Stories

The Standard Insider

Digger Classified

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH US

FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERTS

DIGGER JOBS

Digger Motors

Digger Real Estate

For families of abductees, it has been horror Christmas, not merry

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Stand With Bold Journalism. Stand With The Standard.

Related Topics

Trending Now

Popular this week

Latest Stories

The Standard Insider

Digger Classified

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH US

FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERTS

Stand With Bold Journalism.
Stand With The Standard.