The festive season is typically a time of celebration, family reunions, and hope for a brighter tomorrow. However, for hundreds of Kenyan families, this holiday season has been overshadowed by anguish, loss, and an unrelenting search for answers.
At the center of this growing storm is a chilling phenomenon: the alarming rise in abductions, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings across the country.
In an impassioned public address, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua laid bare the gravity of this issue, calling out the administration of President William Ruto for failing to uphold its promises of justice, security, and adherence to the rule of law.
Gachagua’s remarks, which revisit concerns he first raised over six months ago, paint a grim picture of a government that has not only failed to protect its citizens but is also accused of complicity in their suffering.
A Growing Crisis Ignored
As Gachagua revealed, the crisis of enforced disappearances began quietly but has now escalated into a terrifying pattern of suppression and state overreach. “The victims are overwhelmingly young Kenyans,” he said, “whose only ‘crime’ is their innovative ways of speaking out against the political establishment.”
Gachagua recounted his initial warnings about these disappearances during his time as Deputy President, warnings that went unheeded. He described how raising the issue during a press conference in Mombasa made him a target of the very administration he served. “I was castigated,” he recalled. “It became one of the grounds used to hound me out of office.”
Despite his removal from office, Gachagua’s stance has not wavered. He maintains that the abductions, initially dismissed as isolated incidents, have now evolved into a systematic campaign to silence dissent.
Subaru Boys and the Culture of Fear
The phrase “Subaru Boys” has entered public discourse as a sinister euphemism for the masked men allegedly behind these abductions. According to Gachagua, the modus operandi is as chilling as it is consistent: individuals are bundled into cars by unidentified assailants, never to be seen again, or later found dead in mass graves.
For the few who are released, the ordeal is no less horrifying. Gachagua cited the case of the Kitengela Three, young men abducted in September who were released after a harrowing 32-day ordeal involving torture. Their testimonies stand as damning evidence against the government’s insistence that these incidents are speculative.
Between June and November 2024 alone, reports indicate 74 cases of enforced disappearances, with 26 individuals still unaccounted for. December has brought fresh heartbreak, as new cases emerge and more families come forward with stories of loved ones vanishing without a trace.
A Deafening Silence from Leadership
Gachagua did not mince words in addressing President William Ruto directly. He accused the President of being in denial about the crisis, citing Ruto’s public challenge to families of the disappeared to provide evidence. “No Kenyan took up your offer because they saw through your charade,” Gachagua remarked.
Contrary to the President’s dismissive stance, Gachagua revealed that even senior security officials have privately acknowledged the reality of these abductions. Neighboring Uganda, he added, went as far as thanking Kenya for abducting and extraditing one of their political opposition leaders—a damning international embarrassment.
The former Deputy President lambasted the Inspector General of Police, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) for their collective failure to address the crisis. He accused them of either being complicit in the abductions or utterly incompetent.
The Role of Dissent in the Crackdown
At the heart of this crisis lies a troubling connection: the victims of these abductions are predominantly individuals who have spoken out against the government. Gachagua pointed to the public’s vocal criticism of the Finance Bill 2024 as a potential trigger for this wave of repression.
“This administration is sending a chilling message,” he said. “If you speak out against the government, you will be picked up by the Subaru Boys and ‘disappeared.’”
Gachagua warned that this strategy of intimidation is not only morally indefensible but also politically unsustainable. “This government’s attempt to scare Kenyans into silence while lying, looting, and destroying our nation will not hold,” he declared.
A Failure of Security Agencies
Gachagua’s criticism extended to the country’s security apparatus, which he described as either unwilling or unable to tackle the crisis. He highlighted the persistent denial of the Inspector General of Police, who continues to refer to the abductions as “alleged incidents.”
“How can the police be in denial,” Gachagua asked, “when there are witnesses, video evidence, and countless grieving families coming forward?”
The former Deputy President demanded accountability from the heads of the NIS, the DCI, and the police. “They have clearly failed Kenyans,” he said, renewing his call for their resignations.
A Call to Action
Addressing the broader Kenyan public and the international community, Gachagua issued a rallying cry for collective action. He urged leaders, stakeholders, civil society organizations, and citizens to demand accountability from the government.
“We also appeal to the friends of this country—the media, the church, and the international community—to take a firm stand against these atrocities,” he said.
Gachagua emphasized that silence from the global community would only embolden those responsible for these crimes. He called for immediate pressure on the administration to respect its constitutional obligations and protect its citizens.
A Message of Hope and Solidarity
To the families of the victims, Gachagua offered words of comfort and solidarity. “We assure you that we will stand with you until your loved ones come home, and justice is delivered,” he pledged.
In closing, the former Deputy President reiterated his demand for accountability at the highest levels of government. “President William Ruto must take full responsibility for these violations,” he said. “To remain silent or inactive is to suggest that these actions are being carried out with his knowledge and consent.”
The Path Forward
Kenya finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with a crisis that strikes at the very heart of its democracy. The alarming rise in abductions and extrajudicial killings poses a grave threat to the nation’s social fabric, its commitment to the rule of law, and the fundamental rights of its citizens.
As Gachagua’s speech underscores, the time for action is now. The Kenyan people, along with the international community, must unite to demand justice, accountability, and a renewed commitment to the values that define the nation. Only then can Kenya begin to heal and move forward from this dark chapter in its history.
This festive season, as families across the country gather to celebrate, let us not forget those who cannot. Let us remember the victims, support their families, and stand together in the fight for a Kenya that upholds justice, equality, and the rule of law for all.
