Ruto Sends Plea to Parents Amid Alleged Abductions

President William Ruto subtly weighed in on the recent alleged cases of abductions with a concise statement targeting parents.

All eyes were on the President on Friday, December 27, when he graced Homa Bay County for the Odi Genowa Governor’s Cup 2024 at the Raila Odinga Stadium.

After an entertaining cup final, the President was given the chance to address the thousands of Homa Bay residents, with a special focus on his stance amid pressure on the government to tackle cases of abductions.

While he did not mention a specific case of abduction, the President urged parents to monitor and protect their children.

“These children are a blessing,” Ruto said. “I want to urge parents to protect their children.”

The President further reiterated his government’s commitment to curb abductions, adding, “As a government, we will do our part and the issue of abductions will end in the country so the youth can live in harmony and the youth can become people of integrity and respect to move the country forward.”

AUC chair hopeful Raila Odinga, who also graced the event, weighed in on the contentious abduction issue by directly urging the President to end the vice.

“We want all our youth to be safe. I have told my friend William Ruto that the issue of youth being abducted, detained, and tortured needs to end and anyone involved jailed,” Raila said.

In the same event, the President made lofty pledges to the people of Homa Bay, starting with a KSh 2 million cash gift to all 66 teams that participated in the tournament, which was spearheaded by Homa Bay governor Gladys Wanga.

Further, Ruto also noted the incomplete state of the Raila Odinga stadium as he revealed his government had committed KSh 500 million to go towards the completion of the stadium.

The President said, “I saw many of you seated in the scorching sun. It is my promise that will have Mashujaa celebrations here. When I come back here this stadium will have a canopy and no one will sit in the scorching sun.”

Ruto’s anticipated comments on abductions came after pressure on the government from several stakeholders including the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, who estimate that 82 people have been abducted since the infamous anti-Finance bill protests in June. 

Meanwhile, leaders have also weighed in on the abductions with varying takes, with Ruto’s economic advisor Moses Kuria calling for Kenyans to sign a two-in-one petition.