Ichung'wah: Why are abductions happening only where there are CCTVs?

Majority Leader in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung'wah has poked holes in the abduction and forced disappearances reports targeting government critics, alleging that the acts are carried out by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to paint President William Ruto's administration negatively.

Speaking to The Eastleigh Voice when we inquired why the police are not going for Gachagua if he is indeed behind the abductions, Ichung'wah without any evidence claimed the abducted persons are not with the police.

"Gachagua is behind the abductions. That's the reason why the people are not with the police. They take them wherever they know to create despondency and incite the masses. They identify those critical of the government and make it look like its police," claimed Ichung'wah.

The Majority Leader in the National Assembly also questioned why the abductions are only happening in areas with CCTV cameras.

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"That's why you find the so-called abductions being done in areas with CCTV and only he and his allies seem to know of all of the abductions and about them," Ichung'wah said.

On why he hasn't reported these claims to the police, Ichung'wah said, "The police have said they are investigating. Why don't you give them time? They will question the ones they find useful to question in their own time. It's not my work to direct them when to question whoever."

President's defender

Ichung'wa has been Ruto's foremost defender on reports that it is the government silencing critics through abductions. He last week differed sharply with Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya over who was responsible for the abductions.

Speaking during the burial of Mama Anne Nanyama, the mother of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula in Bungoma County, Governor Natembeya called on Ruto to intervene and stop abductions, arguing that there was no justification for targeting state critics.

His remarks had centred on an earlier claim by Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli, who alleged that some youth were falsely claiming abductions to attract funding from civil society organisations.

"I say this with a very heavy heart. For a leader to stand here and say that people are abducting and killing themselves is unfortunate. Our children are being abducted, and some are being killed. We should not cover up the basic truth," Natembeya said.

In response, a defiant Ichung'wah accused Natembeya of hypocrisy, pointing to his tenure as a Regional Commissioner during the previous administration, which faced allegations of abductions and extrajudicial killings.

"The kind of politics you're engaging in is meant to divide people based on ethnicity. We will not be cowed," Ichung'wah fired back.