Kenya Police Fire Tear Gas to Disperse Protest Against Alleged Government Abductions

Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, witnessed clashes on Monday as police fired tear gas to disperse protesters rallying against what they describe as a wave of abductions targeting government critics.

The protesters, many of them human rights activists and opposition supporters, claim that dozens of Kenyans have been abducted in recent months, allegedly by police and intelligence services.

Human rights organizations have accused the Kenyan authorities of conducting extrajudicial arrests and abductions, especially against those opposed to government policies.

While the Kenyan government has denied any involvement in such actions, stating that it does not condone extrajudicial killings or abductions, protests have intensified over the issue.

On Monday, groups of young demonstrators marched through downtown Nairobi, chanting slogans against the government.

Some protesters staged sit-ins, chaining themselves together in defiance as riot police attempted to break them apart. Tear gas clouds filled the air, with police on horseback patrolling nearby.

Among the demonstrators was opposition lawmaker Okiya Omtatah, who participated in the sit-in. Reports indicated that Omtatah and 10 other protesters were detained during the rally.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has raised alarm over the growing number of reported abductions. According to the commission, at least 82 people have been allegedly kidnapped since anti-government protests began in June, which initially focused on opposition to proposed tax hikes but has since expanded into a broader movement challenging President William Ruto’s administration.

The protests have evolved beyond a single issue, uniting diverse groups across Kenya’s ethnic divides and becoming a significant challenge to the current government.