Clash expected between police and protesters in planned Monday demos

Police and protesters are likely to face off on Monday in the streets of Nairobi following renewed calls for nationwide demonstrations against continued abductions and enforced disappearances targeting government critics.

Although police have not issued a notice banning Monday's protests, the precedent set in the last protests in the city has been deadly confrontations with the police, resulting in arrests of protesters.

Kenyans in online platforms have through notices issued in posters indicated their intention to turn out in large numbers, expressing outrage at the rampant cases of abductions in the country.

Lobby groups are behind the fresh round of countrywide demonstrations to push the state to release those believed to have been abducted by security agents and declare an end to the arrests.

In a press briefing on Friday in Nairobi, human rights groups such as Kikao promised to mobilise Kenyans to come out in large numbers to protest against the abductions.

They said the cases were sparking outrage across the country even as police distanced themselves from the abductions, some of which were reported on Christmas Day.

"On Monday, we are calling for the mother of all protests in all the 47 counties and the diaspora to speak in one voice for our comrades," said Kikao chairperson Lavani Mila, calling on President William Ruto to come clean on the matter.

Activist Odhiambo Ojiro said, "It is a painful ordeal for people to be missing while the government that is supposed to protect its people is silent."

Activist Wanjira Wanjiru said that protests are the only way to end the ongoing abductions in the country.

"The way I'm waiting for Monday!! Let's go out and defend our dignity as Kenyans... This evil cycle will not end unless we rise. We lose our fear, their power."

Ban notices

In the previous protests that have rocked the city, police had issued ban notices over various reasons, claiming that malicious elements had infiltrated the picketers.

"No demonstrations will be permitted in the Nairobi central business district and its surroundings until further notice to ensure public safety," acting National Police Chief Douglas Kanja said in a statement during the last round of protests against the government.

During the protests that have occasionally resulted in deaths, injuries and destruction of properties, rights groups have accused police of using disproportionate force.

For instance, Kenya's National Commission for Human Rights said that since June 18, 39 people have died in the protests and over 32 others have been abducted and some are still missing.

Although authorities have denied knowledge or participation in the abductions, they have been accused of failing to investigate and bring the same to an end.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Thursday responded to Senator Okiya Omtatah over allegations that they were involved in the abduction of popular cartoonist Kibet Bull.

In a statement, the DCI distanced itself from Omtatah's claim that they used one of their signature Subaru cars to pick up the cartoonist.

"The Directorate of Criminal Investigations takes note of the statement made by Senator Okiya Omtatah Okoiti regarding the reported sighting of a white Subaru vehicle linked to the alleged abduction of Gideon Kibet. We wish to emphasise that these allegations are being taken with utmost seriousness," read the statement.

The DCI denied any links to the vehicle and rubbished claims of their alleged involvement in the abduction, adding that this was a ploy to 'sensationalise' a very sensitive matter.