Police officers only arrest people, they don't abduct - IG Kanja
By Maureen Kinyanjui |
Kanja made it clear that those who abduct commit crimes, and those crimes are ordinary, presented before a court of law for a judge to decide.
Inspector General of Police (IG) Douglas Kanja has firmly stated that anyone involved in abductions is committing a crime and must be prosecuted.
Speaking on Tuesday, Kanja clarified the role of police officers in the line of duty.
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"Ours is to arrest, not abduct," and called on Kenyans to distinguish between legal arrests by uniformed officers and illegal abductions," he said.
Addressing the growing concerns over the rise in abductions, Kanja made it clear that those who abduct commit crimes, and those crimes are ordinary, presented before a court of law for a judge to decide.
He stressed that police officers cannot violate the law by holding suspects in illegal detention without due process.
The IG further clarified that if a case of abduction is reported, the police's duty is to investigate and, if an offense has been committed, arrest the culprits and present them before a court.
The remarks come amidst alarming reports of abductions, including the case of Peter Muteti, a 22-year-old social media influencer.
Muteti was reportedly dragged into a vehicle by four armed men, including one in police uniform, around 9 am on December 21, 2024.
Witnesses say the men jumped out of a moving vehicle, forcibly took Muteti, and sped off.
It is believed that Muteti was abducted due to an offensive photo of President William Ruto that he had posted on his social media account before deleting it.
Another similar incident occurred in Embu, where Billy Mwangi was reportedly abducted from a barber shop by four masked men in a double-cabin pickup truck.
Social media influencers Peter Muteti (left) and Billy Mwangi. (Photo: Handout)
While the armed men were described by witnesses, their identities were not confirmed, and there was no direct evidence linking them to the police.
LSK demands
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has demanded the immediate release of the two men—Peter Muteti and Billy Mwangi asserting that their abductions are a violation of the law.
LSK President Faith Odhiambo condemned the incidents as "repressive and contrary to the law," calling for the immediate and unconditional release of both men and for them to be presented in court to face any charges.
"We have received distress calls on the abduction of two Kenyans by police officers on December 21, 2024," Odhiambo said.
"We demand that police officers abandon and desist from these absurd, repressive tactics that have characterized 2024," she added.
LSK also called on the government to uphold the rights and freedoms enshrined in Kenya's Bill of Rights, stressing that the actions of some officers are undermining public trust.
These incidents have reignited public concerns over the role of law enforcement in such acts.
Despite numerous reports of abductions, especially following the youth-led anti-government protests in June 2024, the National Police Service (NPS) has consistently denied involvement.
On November 11, 2024, the NPS reported that 57 abductions had been documented since the protests began.
However, IG Kanja has repeatedly denied any police participation in kidnappings.
"Police don't abduct or kidnap we detain and keep individuals in stations where investigations commence," he said.
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