LSK Demands Release of Two Abducted Men

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has demanded the immediate release of two men, Billy Mwangi and Peter Muteti, who were allegedly abducted by individuals suspected to be police officers.

The call to action comes from LSK President Faith Odhiambo in a statement on Monday, following distress reports received concerning the incidents that took place on December 21, 2024. Odhiambo condemns the abductions, labelling them as "absurd, repressive tactics" that characterize ongoing concerns regarding human rights in Kenya.

She insists that the two men be either released unconditionally or presented before a court if charges are pending against them, asserting that such actions violate legal standards. Furthermore, she urges the government to uphold the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. The circumstances surrounding the abductions have raised alarm.

Peter Muteti, a 22-year-old social media influencer, was reportedly taken by four armed men, one of whom was dressed in police uniform, at approximately 9 am. Eyewitnesses described a scene in which two armed assailants exited a moving vehicle, forcibly abducted Muteti, and quickly drove away. It has been reported that before his abduction, Muteti deleted an offensive post featuring President William Ruto from his online account.

In a similar incident, Mwangi was allegedly seized from a barber shop in Embu by four masked men in a double cabin pickup. The family of Peter Muchechi recently sought assistance from law enforcement in the search for the missing influencer. Initial inquiries, however, were met with responses indicating a lack of sufficient information regarding his whereabouts.

In response to the situation, detectives from the Kabete Police Station have taken the lead in the investigation and are undertaking active measures to locate Muteti. These events have intensified scrutiny of the actions of law enforcement in Kenya. Despite multiple reports linking police involvement in these abductions to broader unrest following Gen Z-led anti-government protests in June, the National Police Service (NPS) has denied any accusation of complicity.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja recently addressed the Committee on Administration and Internal Security, rejecting claims of police abductions. He affirmed that the police only detain individuals for investigation, with those meeting the criteria for prosecution being presented in court, while others are released.