Last summer, the young generation in Kenya took to the streets to demand a brighter future and a stronger economy. President William Ruto’s government first tried to put down the demonstrations by force – before he was instead forced to take a series of symbolic initiatives to curb the protests.
But the young people who have chosen to express their dissatisfaction still live dangerously in the country – at least 82 demonstrators have been kidnapped and the country’s security service is pointed out from several quarters as responsible.
– Some of these young people were recently released. They appeared in different parts of the country, extremely quiet and obviously very dazed, says SVT’s Africa correspondent Johan Ripås.
Several of the people who disappeared are said to have expressed their dissatisfaction with the government on social media. One of them is activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai.
– I’m sure the abduction was about getting hold of my devices to see what I’m doing online, which includes whistle-blowing, she says.
Police source: This is how I approach the victims
The police authority itself claims that it is not involved in the kidnappings – but many are skeptical.
A police source has also told Reuters how he goes about infiltrating demonstrations to approach the victims of the kidnappings.
– I’m there undercover. I can even send money to someone and talk about coming back to demonstrate the next day. But by then I would have taken them, says the police source.
Dark murder
– Unfortunately, Kenya has a long tradition of disappearances linked to security services and the police. There have also been reports of outright executions by so-called “flying squads” within the police, says Johan Ripås.
19-year-old Charles Owino and 21-year-old Shaquille Obienge both died after being shot in the head while participating in demonstrations last year. But according to their relatives, the deaths have been recorded as traffic accidents, reports Reuters.
– The president of Kenya has recently said that he will deal with the heavy-handedness of various state actors, but many do not trust him. These disappearances of young people are extremely burdensome for Kenya in the international arena.