Pressure Mounts on IPOA to Probe Alleged Abductions After Activist Resurfaces Traumatized

Fresh calls are mounting for the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to launch an independent investigation into the latest wave of alleged abductions following the disappearance and eventual recovery of social justice activist Davis Lichuma. Human rights organizations say the incident has renewed concerns over enforced disappearances in Kenya and are demanding accountability from state agencies tasked with protecting citizens.

Lichuma, a Mathare-based social justice activist, reportedly disappeared after attending activities marking the second commemoration of the June 2024 anti-tax protest victims. According to fellow activists and rights groups, he was allegedly seized in broad daylight near Parliament by uniformed police officers before disappearing without a trace. His family, friends, and fellow activists launched frantic searches in hospitals, police stations, and morgues, but were unable to establish his whereabouts for several days.

The activist was eventually found on Sunday night after reportedly being abandoned at Kenyatta National Hospital in critical condition. Relatives who rushed to the hospital say Lichuma remains visibly traumatized and has not spoken since he was rescued. His brother described the emotional toll of the ordeal, saying the family had feared the worst after exhausting every possible avenue in search of him.

The case has reignited debate over President William Ruto’s earlier pledge to end enforced disappearances and abductions. Addressing the issue previously, the President stated that all those who had disappeared had been reunited with their families and that he had issued firm instructions to ensure such incidents would never happen again. However, Lichuma’s alleged abduction has raised fresh questions among rights organizations about whether those commitments are being upheld.

Human rights defenders argue that the circumstances surrounding the activist’s disappearance fit what they describe as a broader pattern of alleged unlawful arrests, enforced disappearances, and intimidation targeting government critics and civil society actors. They claim Lichuma was initially arrested by uniformed police officers, taken to Nairobi’s Central Police Station, and later removed from the facility before his whereabouts became unknown.

Rights groups further say several young people were reported missing following the June 2024 protest anniversary commemorations. While some have since been traced, others are reportedly still unaccounted for, heightening fears among activists that enforced disappearances remain a serious concern despite repeated government assurances.

The National Police Service has denied any involvement in the alleged abduction, distancing itself from the claims and urging members of the public with information regarding missing persons to report the matter at the nearest police station. Police have not publicly addressed the specific allegations that Lichuma was arrested before disappearing.

Civil society organizations are now calling on IPOA to conduct a thorough, transparent, and independent investigation into the incident, including establishing the circumstances surrounding Lichuma’s disappearance and identifying anyone who may have been involved. They argue that accountability is essential to restoring public confidence in law enforcement institutions and safeguarding constitutional rights.

As the country moves closer to the next General Election, rights groups warn that unresolved allegations of abductions and enforced disappearances risk undermining public trust in state institutions. They are urging oversight agencies to act decisively, insisting that every reported disappearance must be investigated promptly and those found responsible held accountable in accordance with the law.