IPOA to Probe Surge in Abduction Cases

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has raised concerns about the high cases of abductions purported to have been carried out by suspected police officers.

In a statement on Wednesday, 25 December, IPOA announced that it had launched investigations into the most recent cases involving X users allegedly abducted for sharing offensive AI-generated images of the President.

“The Independent Policing Oversight Authority is concerned with the rising cases of abductions of various persons allegedly by members of the National Police Service (NPS),” part of the statement read.

“This follows reports of the abductions emerging in mainstream media and on social media. The victims include Messrs Bill Mwangi, Peter Muteti Njeru, Bernard Kavuli, and a fourth yet-to-be-identified person.”

The incidents, which occurred on various days in December, are reported to have taken place in Embu, Kajiado, and Nairobi Counties.

In line with its oversight mandate, the authority announced that Rapid Response Teams had already been deployed to the areas where the missing individuals were last seen to commence investigations.

“Rapid Response Teams were dispatched to the areas of the incidents with instructions to obtain all information that may be relevant in unveiling the circumstances surrounding the abductions and whether there was police involvement, as generally alleged,” read the statement.

“Where fault is found, the Authority shall make recommendations for prosecution, internal disciplinary action, or any other appropriate relief, and shall make public the responses received to these recommendations.”

The families of Peter Muteti and Billy Mwangi went public a few weeks ago, alleging that their relatives had been abducted by suspected police officers for sharing AI-generated images of President William Ruto in a coffin.

Since media reports on the matter surfaced, several individuals, including politicians and activists, have called for their release, terming the abductions arbitrary.

Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji is among the politicians who have amplified their voice against the abductions, calling for Billy Mwangi’s release on Tuesday.

“If, in any way, he is produced harmed or dead, we are going to stop everything in Embu,” the MP said.

“We are going to call demonstrations, and we are going to close all government offices because we cannot accept the order of the day being the loss of our young people.”