Five days after President William Ruto promised Kenyans that he would ensure cases of abductions in the country would end, the six youths who were abducted over the Christmas period are still missing.
Speaking in Homa Bay on Friday, December 27, last year, Ruto promised an end to the abductions but also told parents to “take responsibility” for their children.
“We are going to stop the abductions so that our youth can live peacefully,” he asserted.
Following the promise, several Kenyans have called out Ruto for failing to heed this promise. Journalist Larry Madowo has called out Ruto for failing to deliver on the promise and questioned why the probe was taking longer, putting the families on hold.
A photo collage of Bernard Kavuli, Peter Muteti and Billy Mwangi who were reportedly abducted for sharing AI-generate images of the President.
Taking to his official X page on Wednesday, Larry Madowo noted that while the world is celebrating a new year, families of the six abducted youths cannot celebrate peacefully because they don’t know the whereabouts of their children.
“It’s been 5 days since President Ruto promised to end abductions in Kenya. Families of the dozens still missing are waiting for him to keep his word,” Madowo pointed out.
On his part, Kangundo MP Fabian Kyule called on the Director of Criminal Investigations to expedite the investigation of the whereabouts of the youths who have been missing for over a fortnight now.
“On this matter, we stand and condemn it, and we are calling on the DCI to move faster, we need to get the proper information, and we need to understand whether people are doing this to defame the work of government, before the January 15, we need to understand what is happening,” the MP said.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his allies also piled pressure on the President, asking him to oversee the release of the abducted youths and heed his promise.
Gachagua asked that the youths should be released to their families, whether dead or alive, to help promote closure.
“To live up to your words, Mr President, make sure those children are released to their parents before the new year. If they are killed, release their bodies to their parents so they can bury them and have closure,” the former DP said.
On Monday, December 30, High Court Judge Bahati Mwamuye gave IG Douglas Kanja seven days to produce the six abducted youths in court. Gideon Kibet, Bernard Kavuli, Peter Muteti, Billy Mwangi, Rony Kiplangat, and Steve Kavingo went missing in December 2024 after they were abducted following sharing anti-Ruto content online.
Protestors gatherining in the Nairobi CBD on Monday, December 30 2024. PHOTO/ @CaptainOchenge