In a controversial statement, Tiaty MP William Kamket has defended the recent abductions and arrests of critics of President William Ruto’s administration.
Speaking in his home county of Baringo on Friday, February 7, 2025, Kamket described these actions as necessary consequences for those attempting to destabilize the government.
Kamket’s remarks come at a time when Kenya is grappling with a surge in reported abductions, with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) noting 82 cases since June 2024, of which 29 individuals remain unaccounted for.
“When you say that Ruto must go and you want to use unconstitutional means, what do you expect from the state? You expect what we call reprisals and repercussions,” Kamket declared.
He further minimized the public outcry over these incidents as “little noises,” suggesting they are the natural outcome of opposition to the government.
The MP’s justification has sparked a significant backlash but also highlights the polarizing political climate in Kenya. Opposition to President Ruto has been vocal, with chants like “Ruto Must Go” becoming common at protests and on social media platforms.
However, Kamket warns that such expressions of dissent come with a price if they verge on what he deems unconstitutional.
Contrasting views within Ruto’s administration have also surfaced. Sirisia MP John Waluke, speaking in Kabuchai, Bungoma County on January 3, outright rejected the notion of state-sponsored abductions, labeling them as mere propaganda aimed at discrediting the government. “There is nothing like abductions. This is propaganda aimed at tarnishing the name of the government, our country, and your name as the President,” Waluke asserted.
Similarly, Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah, on December 31, provided a different perspective, suggesting that some claims of abductions might be fabricated. He accused some individuals of staging their disappearances to garner sympathy or to make political statements, saying, “I’m seeing some people go and lock themselves in Airbnbs with their girlfriends for three days and say they have been abducted.”
Ichung’wah emphasized the legal framework for dealing with social media misuse, referencing the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act of 2018, which provides for arrest and charge rather than abduction. “The government of Kenya has no business abducting anybody on the basis of what they say on social media,” he stated, advocating for adherence to legal processes over extrajudicial actions.
These statements from Kamket, Waluke, and Ichung’wah illustrate a divided approach within the government on how to handle dissent and criticism. While some defend the actions as necessary to maintain order, others dismiss the allegations as fabrications or call for legal rather than forceful responses.
The debate over these tactics and the validity of the claims of abductions continues to stir public discourse in Kenya, raising questions about human rights, freedom of speech, and the rule of law under President Ruto’s leadership.
