Kenyan Security Officials Abduct Online Protesters From Their Homes

Video footage has surfaced on the internet showing security officials in Kenya abducting online protesters from their homes, in the midst of a nationwide youth-led protest against proposed tax increases in the Finance Bill 2024.

The protests have continued across the country for about a week, after youths declared a “7 days of rage” over increased taxes that could exacerbate economic hardship in the country.

The protesters also urged workers and businesses to join a nationwide strike in protest of the bill.

The government through the Police and Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI), has continued a clampdown on protesters that began last week. On June 20, Rex Kanyike, a 29 year-old protester was shot dead by a police officer wearing mufti.

On Saturday, Billy Simani, a popular Kenyan digital influencer cum protester, was abducted by security men but was later released following efforts by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).

Videos have surfaced on X showing state-sponsored security officers breaking into homes on young Kenyans to abduct them. 

“See what they are doing to us,” a protester who shared one of such videos wrote on X. “Calling for dialogue on camera but going behind to ABDUCT innocent online protesters!” another user wrote.

Another abducted protester is Kelvin Monari (a.k.a. Osama Otero). He is a loud voice against the bill and an organiser of some of the big protest spaces on X, including one attended by over 50,000 Kenyans.

Monari made a series of posts to alert the public about his abduction on Monday, as seen in the screenshot below:

Other abducted protesters are: Shad Khalif, Gabriel Oguda, Drey Mwangi, and Franje 

The LSK President, Faith Odhiambo, confirmed the abductions while accusing intelligence officers of misconduct.

“Evidently, this was not an arrest as the police did not identify themselves or engage in any conversation prior to the arrest to inform him of his rights,” Odhiambo wrote in a statement. “These criminals pretending to exercise police authority must be stopped.”

The government has asked the protesters to nominate leaders for dialogue, but many protesters continue to insist that they have no leader, and that a leader is not necessary for the government to address their agitation.

The protesters have threatened to take over the National Assembly tomorrow, an action President William Ruto’s government has warned against. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindami, warned against attempts to enter any government buildings during the demonstrations.

However, Opposition MP Babu Owino, invited protesters to the National Assembly, in a video he posted on X. “I will personally open the gate for you so you can come in and have tea,” he said.

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Oluwatobi Odeyinka

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