President Ruto: I will end abductions in Kenya but you must be responsible

President William Ruto has broken his silence on the rising cases of abductions in Kenya, calling on parents and the youth to foster responsibility and discipline.

Speaking during the Governor's Cup at Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay, the president reassured citizens of his government's commitment to ending the wave of abductions, which has sparked fear and outrage across the nation.

"I will end abduction. This is because we want the youths to live in harmony and be responsible, disciplined, and patriotic," Ruto said on Friday.

"I'm asking the youths of Kenya because we want to walk together. I'm telling each and every parent: please be responsible and take care of your children. Our children are gifts. Please do your part, and as a government, we shall also do our bit," he added.

The president's remarks come amid mounting pressure to address the situation, with opposition leader Raila Odinga urging swift action to curb the abduction spree.

"I have told my good friend here, Ruto, that this issue of young men being abducted should end. He needs to stop these... Even if someone abuses me, that does not mean he is my enemy," Raila said. He was in the same function.

"We should not cross over to the new year with the abduction spree," he added.

The issue of abductions has raised significant concerns across Kenya, with families pleading for government intervention.

According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), 82 abduction cases have been reported since June 2024, with 13 occurring in the past three months alone.

Six victims from December remain missing, including Steve Kavingo Mbisi from Machakos, Billy Wanyiri Mwangi from Embu, Peter Muteti from Uthiru, Nairobi, and Bernard Kavuli from Ngong, Nairobi.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has also criticised the police for failing to address the situation. LSK President Faith Odhiambo called for the resignation of the Inspector-General of Police if he cannot decisively tackle the crisis.

"If the holder of this office is incapable of fulfilling their mandate, it would be in the best interest of the nation for him to either rise to the occasion or tender his resignation forthwith. Anything less would amount to a betrayal of public trust and a dereliction of constitutional obligations," Odhiambo said.

Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja has firmly denied any police involvement in abductions.

"Ours is to arrest, not abduct," he said, urging Kenyans to distinguish between lawful arrests by uniformed officers and illegal activities.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched investigations into the matter, with Chairperson Ahmed Issack Hassan expressing alarm over the rising cases.

"The Authority is deeply concerned about the rising cases of abductions allegedly linked to the police," Hassan said. IPOA has deployed rapid response teams to gather evidence and ensure justice.