Kakamega Senator Bony Khalwale on Sunday criticized the Central Organization of Trade UnionsĀ (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli for questioning alleged abductions in the country.
The vocal Senator said Kenya is an advanced democracy and abductions are not permissible by the Constitution, warning the vice must come to an end.
“The era of extrajudicial killings and abductions must come to an end immediately,” he stated.
Referring to Atwoli’s remarks during the burial of the National Assembly’s Speaker mother in Bungoma earlier this month, Khalwale faulted the COTU leader for purporting that people were abducting themselves.Ā
President William Ruto with the COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli in Khwisero in February 2024.
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PCS
“There is no human being who can abduct himself and kill himself,” Khalwale stated alleging that the abductions are state sponsored.
The UDA-elected Senator called Atwoli to to stop whitewashing the abduction rhetoric and condemned the vice, which is a threat to Kenya’s democracy.
“Atwoli, I beg you, you are my senior in age, but in politics, I am your senior. At our age and experience, we are supposed to sugarcoat something when it’s wrong,” he asserted.
“Don’t defend that kind of thing. Let us converge and bring peace to our country,” Senator Khalwale asserted.
At the same time, the Senator urged the western region to unite and work with President William Ruto until his tenure ends in 2027.
“Let us work with the President until 2027, then we are going to make a decision. If it’s good, he will continue, if it’s not, we are going to get a better person. That is how politics works,” he stated, dismissing leaders who are opposing the Kenya Kwanza administration.
The remarks by Senator Khalwale come as the issue of abductions in Kenya has escalated significantly, particularly since June 2024 with many cases of abductions reported.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has reported that there have beenĀ 82 documented cases of abductions, with a notable increase in incidents targeting individuals who are critical of the government.
Despite mounting evidence, including eyewitness accounts and CCTV footage, the Kenyan government has denied any involvement in these abductions.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja publicly stated that the National Police Service is not involved in any abduction activities and emphasized that no police station is holding any abductees.
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A photo collage of Bernard Kavuli, Peter Muteti and Billy Mwangi who were reportedly abducted for sharing AI-generate images of the President.