FROM FRYING PAN TO FIRE

President William Ruto has again exposed himself to criticism after being trapped by his recent words on abductions.

Speaking on Monday, 12, May, during a State House session with the Finnish President, Alexander Stubb, Ruto , who has been dismissing abduction reports finally acknowledged their existence .

"All the people who disappeared or were abducted in what you said (Gen Z protests) have been brought back to their families and their homes, " he confirmed.

He further led to a spark of reactions after seemingly implying that he was not part of that and he is never for extrajudicial killings and abductions.

"I have given firm instructions that nothing of that kind of nature will ever happen again. It was my commitment as I became President that the extrajudicial disappearance of Kenyans would not be part of what we are doing as a nation," Ruto said.

Barely a week, former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has gained tentative grounds to criticize his former boss.

In his remarks on Wednesday, May 14, Muturi proved that he was right accusing the state of master minding the abductions.
"He just confirmed what I’ve been saying all along! What was so difficult about simply acknowledging that these were state-sponsored killings and abductions, and putting a stop to them sooner?” he remarked.

Despite his statements on the abductions, the head of state did not point or call out the perpetrators but just promised of accountability measures going forward.

People's Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua also joined his opposition counterpart asking the president to also acknowledge the extrajudicial killings and disappearances.

"Now that William Ruto has acknowledged abductions, he needs to go further and acknowledge extrajudicial killings and disappearances, as well as the role of security forces in these acts," she said.

"Ruto must also take steps to hold the culprits accountable, including those identified in the BBC documentary," Karua added calling for the suspects to be brought to book.

The former Chief Justice, David Maraga also followed suit asking Ruto to apologize for the vices.

"It is unconscionable to hear the President claim, without any apology to the victims, parents, and families, that there are no ongoing incidents of enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings and that accountability mechanisms are in effect,” Maraga cited.

The former judiciary boss further refuted Ruto's claims of exonerating the abductees, citing Brian Odhiambo as an example of disappearance and yet to be found.
“Brian Odhiambo’s mother continues to search for her son, who was abducted four months ago. There are many other similar cries for justice as we have seen in the petition launched on Mother’s Day by the parents of youth killed during the protests in June 2024,"he noted.