Ruto: No justification for unlawful arrests or abductions in Kenya

President William Ruto has condemned the disappearances, abductions, and illegal detentions of Kenyans, stating that his administration will not justify or excuse unlawful arrests.

Speaking to the nation on Thursday from the Parliament Buildings, the president emphasised that his government is committed to protecting citizens' rights and ensuring accountability for security forces.

“There is no attempt to justify or excuse illegal arrests, such would be serious threats to the life and liberty of citizens. I condemn any excessive or extrajudicial action which puts the life and liberty of any person at risk, including disappearances and threats to life," he said.

Ruto acknowledged the challenges in addressing the issue, stating that many cases have been resolved, while others have been uncovered as fake news.

"Numerous allegations have been made concerning disappearances of people during protests. A number of these cases have been resolved, while others have been uncovered as fake news, undermining efforts to find genuine cases of missing persons," he said.

He pointed out that some of the alleged disappearances were, in fact, police arrests, with the suspects subsequently arraigned. "A good number of alleged disappearances have also turned out to be arrests made by police officers, and in such cases, the suspects have been duly arraigned in court.”

He called on Kenyans with information on such cases to report it to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA).

"I am aware that many of the cases that have been raised are being handled by IPOA, an important step in accountability and justice,” he added.

Reaffirming Kenya’s commitment to democracy, Ruto stressed that protests are a constitutional right as long as they remain peaceful and unarmed. He, however, warned against the mobilisation of criminal activities under the guise of protest.

"We understand, therefore, that protests are always legitimate and permitted by the Constitution—protests conducted by citizens who are peaceful and unarmed," he said.

“Conversely, mobilisation in pursuit of criminal agendas, chaos and anarchic schemes is explicitly forbidden because we all have a duty to defend our republic, our Constitution and the rights of all people."

The Head of State also highlighted the challenges posed by modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, which have made it easier to mislead and incite the public.

"In the digital era characterised by transformative innovations, including artificial intelligence, it has never been easier to inform, educate and entertain citizens. At the same time, it has never been easier to misinform, mislead, disinform, incite and alarm the public,” he noted.

He condemned the violent criminal elements that hijack peaceful protests, warning that they endanger both legitimate protesters and the public.

“Criminals and subversive elements who infiltrate and hijack peaceful protests are a threat both to legitimate protesters and to the public,” Ruto said.

Ruto emphasised the importance of distinguishing between lawful protests and criminal behaviour, saying, "It is only by following the law that we are able to achieve our aims and apportion accountability properly."

"It should not be possible for robbers and looters to escape accountability by claiming that they were taking part in protests. Likewise, it should not be possible for security officers to wound, maim or even kill innocent people and claim that they were engaging violent criminals," he said.

The president reiterated that the government is committed to protecting both democratic expression and public safety.

"We all have a duty to make the necessary distinctions and do so clearly to protect democratic expression and guarantee public safety and security," Ruto said.