Acting US Ambassador Marc Dillard Demands Accountability for Abductions in Kenya

The US Embassy in Kenya on Tuesday, December 31, called for an end to the recent spate of abductions witnessed in Kenya. 

Charge d’Affaires Marc Dillard, in a statement, conveyed the message urging for greater responsibility and respect for the rule of law.

Dillard joined the calls by various international organizations, local human rights groups, political leaders, and personalities to put an end to the enforced disappearances that have caused much public uproar.

The increasing calls sparked protests in Nairobi and other major towns in the country as Kenyans demanded the unconditional release of seven individuals who have been allegedly abducted since December 21. 

Dillard, who took up official duty at the Embassy after the exit of Meg Whitman urged the government to tap into the spirit of recently deceased former US President Jimmy Carter who he credited for championing human rights worldwide. 

“President Carter championed human rights worldwide. In the spirit of his legacy, we join the calls in Kenya for accountability and respect for the rule of law. Abductions must end,” Dillard asserted. 

The demonstrations that happened on Monday, December 31, saw Kenyans flocking to the Nairobi CBD armed with placards bearing messages slamming the Kenya Kwanza government. 

Several major roads going into the Nairobi CBD were barricaded by police, who were also seen frisking Public Service Vehicles in a bid to determine whether the vehicles were ferrying protestors into the city.

By midday on Monday, matatus were barred from entering the CBD, as officers closed off Kenyatta Avenue from entry of any public service vehicles.

This was after activists on Sunday, December 29, galvanised Kenyans online to stage protests in attempts to push the government to release Kenyans who mysteriously went missing this December. Many believe more than five people have been abducted including Steve Mbisi from Machakos, Billy Mwangi (Embu), Peter Muteti (Nairobi), Bernard Kavuli (Nairobi), Gideon Kibet alias Kibet Bull (Nairobi) and Rony Kiplang’at (Kiambu).

The protests in Nairobi led to the arrest of 23 persons amongst them Busia senator Okiya Omtatah who were later arraigned before the Milimani Law Courts charged with incitement to violence and disobedience to the law. 

However, the 23 were released by the High Court which ruled against a request by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to hold Omtatah and his co-accused in custody for 14 days.  Principal Magistrate Rose Ndombi instead granted their release on a cash bail of Sh1,000 each or a bond of Sh50,000 with a surety of the same amount.

According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), 82 persons have been abducted since the July-August protests with 13 happening within the last three months. 

Kenyan authorities have however denied the allegations, stating that the government does not condone or engage in such actions.