Kenyan President Promises End To Abductions

Published

2 years ago

December 28, 2024

585 Views

Kenyan President William Ruto has promised an end to abductions, following the latest spate of disappearances that have been condemned by rights groups, lawyers and politicians.

Security forces in the East African nation have been accused of carrying out dozens of illegal detentions since youth-led anti-government demonstrations in June and July.

The latest disappearances have primarily involved young men who have criticised Ruto online, with rights groups dismissing police denials of involvement and calling for action.

Speaking to a crowd Friday in Homa Bay, a town in western Kenya, Ruto promised an end to the abductions but also told parents to “take responsibility” of their children.

“We are going to stop the abductions so that our youth can live peacefully,” he said, according to local media reports.

Ruto had addressed the issue in his annual state of the nation speech in November, condemning “any excessive or extrajudicial” action.

But he also said many of the detentions were legitimate arrests against “criminals and subversive elements”.

Anger has continued to grow in the country, with the latest abductions sparking small-scale protests in at least one town.

Police have denied involvement but activists have questioned why they appear to not be investigating the disappearances.

“If indeed the police are not complicit,” the Law Society of Kenya said, they must immediately “investigate and prosecute those responsible”.

Human Rights Watch said earlier this year that its research pointed towards a unit drawn from multiple security agencies.

Ruto’s remarks follow recent comments by former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, who alleged a secret unit was behind the disappearances.

“Abducting these children and killing them is not a solution… This is the first administration in the history of this country to target children for repression,” Gachagua claimed.

Related Topics:End of Abduction Featured Kenyan President

Up Next

Jimmy Carter, former US president, dies aged 100

Don't Miss

Ethiopia Racing to join WTO Membership in 2026

Click to comment

Five killed as Amazon cargo plane crashes at Miami airport

The flight also hit several vehicles on the ground.

Published

1 hour ago

September 8, 2026

OCHEFA

8 Views

Video footage from Miami shows an Amazon Air cargo plane overshoot the runway while attempting to land at the city’s international airport, killing five people and seriously injuring five more.

The Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft crashed just before 14:00 local time (19:00 GMT) after departing from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The flight also hit several vehicles on the ground.

BBC

Trump sends envoys to Russia, Ukraine with new peace plan

Published

3 days ago

September 5, 2026

Charles Flames

37 Views

US President Donald Trump has dispatched special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv this weekend with a new proposal aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

Trump announced the mission on Friday, describing Witkoff and Kushner as “two great negotiators” who are carrying “a proposal to end the war.” He said there “may be a good chance” of progress and added that the United States has “an idea for peace,” without confirming whether the plan involves territorial concessions.

According to reports, the envoys were expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday before travelling to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday. A senior Ukrainian official confirmed the Kyiv leg of the trip. Russian state media reported that Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Moscow on Saturday.

The visit marks the first time the two envoys will travel to war-torn Kyiv since Trump returned to office. Previous diplomatic efforts involving the pair had focused more heavily on contacts with Moscow.

Zelensky said Ukrainian forces would refrain from airstrikes on Russia while the envoys were in the country and called on Moscow to reciprocate by pausing attacks on Ukraine. The mission represents Washington’s latest attempt to break the long-running diplomatic stalemate in the conflict that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

International

Uber introduces robotaxi services in London after exiting Nigeria

A licensed operator will remain inside the vehicle initially to monitor the journey. Fully driverless operations are expected in the future, subject to regulatory approval.

Published

5 days ago

September 3, 2026

OCHEFA

46 Views

Ride-haling company, Uber, in partnership with British Artificial Intelligence company Wayve, has unveiled an autonomous rides in London, marking a new step in the company’s expansion of robotaxi services.

Reuters reported that the move comes few hours after Uber exited Nigeria, where the company had operated its ride-hailing service for over 12 years.

According to Reuters report on Thursday, London is now the second city in Europe where Uber offers autonomous rides, after first it launched it robotaxi service in Zagreb.

At the initial stage, fewer than 20 Wayve-powered Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles will be available.

Passengers requesting UberX, Uber Comfort or Uber Electric could be matched with one of the autonomous vehicles at no additional cost.

A licensed operator will remain inside the vehicle initially to monitor the journey. Fully driverless operations are expected in the future, subject to regulatory approval.

Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous Mobility, Sarfraz Maredia, said the launch would help build public and government confidence in the technology.

“This will build credibility with consumers as well as with the government,” Maredia said.