Wajir Assembly raises concern over alleged abduction of Della MCA

Della Member of County Assembly in Wajir County was allegedely abducted by unknown men of Friday night along Enterprise Road in Nairobi. [Mohammed Saman, Standard]

The leadership of the Wajir County Assembly has condemned the alleged abduction of Della Ward Representative Yussuf Hussein.

Led by Speaker Abdille Yussuf, the MCAs said it is worrying that Hussein's whereabouts remain unknown after he was abducted on Friday night at around 9pm.

Hussein is said to have been driving along Enterprise Road in Nairobi before the incident occurred.

In a joint press conference, the ward reps said their colleague was forcefully taken by unknown individuals who arrived in two Land Cruiser Prado vehicles.

"We are not privy to any ongoing investigation or statements recorded by the Member or any criminal offence committed by him," said Yussuf.

According to the Speaker, if there are any offences committed by the MCA, the authority would have allowed him to record a statement or even arrested him in a dignified and humane manner rather than abducting him at night causing apprehension to his family, friends and the people he represents.

"Abduction is a gross violation of human rights and amounts to arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearance as prohibited under Article 29 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. Such actions negate the provision of Article 29 and international laws which guarantees the freedom and security of a person and is a setback to the gains made under the constitution and reforms made in the National Police Service," he said.

Mr Yussuf said the Constitution provides that a person who is detained, held in custody, or imprisoned retains all the rights and fundamental freedoms in the Bill of Rights.

These rights uphold the principles of due process and human dignity and it is through adherence to them that a balance is struck between law enforcement objectives of maintaining public order and security and the preservation of civil liberties and human rights," he said.

He said adherence to these rights is a key element to fostering a robust criminal justice system where the rights of all parties are protected and justice is available to all.

"As leaders from Wajir, we are alarmed by the predicament of our colleague, and in the recent surge of abductions, enforced disappearance and killing of Kenyans, there is an urgent need for the security agencies to inform us of the whereabouts the MCA," the Speaker said.

He said if the abductors are not security personnel, it's important that the police carry out a thorough and urgent investigation into the abduction and release him from their jaws.

The concerns come in the wake of an increase in abductions of ward reps.

Towards the end of 2023, former South C MCA Osman Khalif was abducted from his Westlands home in Nairobi.

Khalif who was working as an advisor to Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja was also roughed up and abducted by armed men in the dark of the night.