GARISSA—One of the two missing men from Ijara, Garissa County has finally been released by his captors who still remain anonymous.
Abdi Ahmed, 28, a businessman and a boda boda rider rejoined with his family on Wednesday night, nominated MP Umulkher Harun has confirmed to Kulan Post.
However, Abdi Mohamed Abdi, a herder, remains unaccounted for. The two went missing nearly a month ago.
“We shall however follow up on why he went missing in the first place but for now we say Asante [thank you],” Umulkher said on a post to her X handle, formerly Twitter.
Ahmed was reportedly abducted from his home and bundled into a vehicle under the watch of his wife, while Abdi was last spotted in Boni Forest looking after his cattle.
Led by the Ijara MP Abdi Ali, the area leaders earlier this month raised alarm over surge in disappearances and extrajudicial killings
Last week, Ms Umulkher accompanied by the Executive Director for Amnesty International Kenya Irũngũ Houghton, met with the Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Mr. Mohamed Amin in a bid to “raise the increasing cases of human rights violations in the Ijara.”
SURGE IN EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS AND DISAPPEARANCES
A report by the Independent Medico Legal Unit (IMLU) revealed that since President Ruto’s inauguration last year, incidents of torture and violence have increased dramatically.
According to the IMLU survey, cases of extrajudicial killings and disappearances increased compared to the 232 violations reported during a similar period between October 1, 2021, and September 30, 2022.
One concerning aspect highlighted in the report is the prevalence of punitive policing during protests, extrajudicial executions, deaths in custody, and the deliberate torture of children. Interference with investigative authorities and unconditional interference by the National Police Service were also cited as contributing factors to these violations.
The majority of victims identified in the report were young adult males aged 18 to 35 years, accounting for 314 cases. Those aged 36 to 65 comprised 121 cases, while individuals aged 0 to 17 years represented 44 cases.
IMLU’s Executive Director, Peter Kiama, expressed deep concern about the alarming rise in cases, emphasizing that it not only signifies a lack of progress but also suggests a worsening situation.
Kiama asserted that this data implies President Ruto’s efforts to address police abuse and protect urban youth have fallen short. Kiama called for a critical re-evaluation of the strategies and measures put in place to fulfill promises made regarding police reform and youth protection.
President Ruto, upon assuming office, had vowed to end police brutality and enforced disappearances in the country as part of his efforts to streamline the security sector. He expressed the government’s commitment to ending extrajudicial executions.
Simultaneously, IMLU urged President William Ruto to recognize and support investigative and oversight institutions in the country, such as the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA), in their efforts to end extrajudicial killings.
