Keter abduction sparks fear, fury amidst spate of kidnappings

Former Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter was abducted by State agents. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The broad daylight abduction of former Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter has ignited public fury and raised serious questions regarding the government’s commitment to ending enforced disappearances.

Keter was abducted along Nyeri Road in Kileleshwa, as his wife and children watched in dismay moments after attending a church service at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

He was forcefully pulled out of his car while members of the public looked on, some screaming as Keter resisted.

Shadowy, hooded men, believed to be police officers who had trailed him since daybreak, mercilessly shoved him into a car and sped off to an unknown destination.

The abduction comes just days after President William Ruto committed to ending arbitrary arrests and abductions linked to the recent countrywide anti-tax protests.

Immediately after the incident, Keter’s social media pages updated Kenyans: "Abducted, headed to an unknown destination."

In a video that has since gone viral, three hooded men are seen dragging him out of his black four-wheel vehicle parked on the roadside as onlookers watched the scene in shock. While this is happening, a white double-cabin vehicle with registration KBE 256H approaches from the opposite direction.

“Wewe toka hapa, wacha maneno mingi" (move away, stop talking too much) one of the hooded men is heard ordering. His little children are heard wailing as they tried to convince the abductors not to take away their father. A visibly shaken Keter struggles to resist but is overpowered.

A source at the National Police Service (NPS) said he was taken for questioning at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters along Kiambu Road before being transferred to Kamukunji police station. One of the men is visibly seen carrying a rifle. In the short video, someone is seen getting inside Keter’s vehicle.

An officer with knowledge of the plan confided in The Standard: "You have not seen anything yet; there are plans by the state to re-arrest all the protestors who had been locked up and released on cash bail. It seems there is a fresh ploy to introduce new charges."

Human Rights Activist Hussein Khalid of Vocal Africa now claims that his own life and those of several activists at the forefront of the recent protests are in danger.

“At this rate, when we thought that things were calming down, sadly, no one is safe. I have been forced to keep shifting places where I spend my nights just to be safe. This is really bad for our country and a clear abuse of our laws. These guerrilla tactics only serve to delegitimize those in authority and erode public trust in security organs,” Said Khalid.

Keter’s last public appearance was during the burial of comedian Fred Omondi in Sega, Siaya County. As characteristic of his speeches, he criticized the government and praised Kenyan youth for standing up against it in the anti-tax protests. “Did you see that Eldoret stood with you in the protests, and the whole country is with you?” he asked, receiving a frenzy of cheering from the crowd. “Mkae ngangari, sisi kule Eldoret tumetangaza Zakayo lazima aende nyumbani” (Stay strong, we in Eldoret have declared that Zakayo must go home).

The Standard tried to reach the National Police Service (NPS) spokesperson, Resila Anyango, but our calls went unanswered.

Several leaders, including those serving in government, have condemned the abduction. Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei said: “There is a procedure for effecting an arrest. This is not one of them. We must resist the temptation to adopt extra-legal means even in the pursuit of legitimate objectives.”

KANU Chairman Gideon Moi called on the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome to respect human rights. “Anything that happens to the former legislator will be squarely blamed on the IG,” stated Moi. He called on Koome to take steps to ensure Keter's safety. 

Nyamira Senator and senior counsel Okong’o Omogeni remarked: “The abduction of Hon. Keter signals a regime that has no respect for the rule of law and is intent on curtailing the freedom of speech.”

Siaya Governor James Orengo observed: “Abductions, killings, terror, and ruthless repression—Kenya is beginning to look more like Haiti than Haiti.”

Former Mt Elgon MP Joseph Kimkung said the daylight abduction by individuals popular opinion suggest were police officers was disgusting. Terming it as primitive he wondered that it was conducted in broad daylight and in the presence of Mr Keter’s family, which included his wife and young children.

"The screaming of his children was not enough for the individuals to understand the trauma they were subjecting Mr Keter’s family" Said Kimkung adding " This shameful and despicable act should be condemned by all kenyans. Kenyans deserve an explanation"

Keter, known for his criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration, has been in the forefront of the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests and was spotted at the City Mortuary during autopsy of Rex Masai, the 29-year-old shot dead during the protests.

“This is unacceptable, there is no justification as to why Rex died in this manner,” he stated when he visited Rex’s family.

Keter’s father, Nicholas Kosgei, expressed his shock upon learning that his son had been abducted. “I don’t know what is happening, and I don’t know what to say at this point,” he told The Standard over the phone from Nandi. “I am utterly shocked.”

Last week, in a state of the nation address, President William Ruto denied that the state was involved in the abduction of protestors.

“Abductions are statements attributed to some of the civil society groups, but all the people mentioned have since been found in police custody, and all those already processed were released,” he said in response to a journalist’s question. “I promised the country that there will be no extrajudicial killings going forward. Since I came into office, there has not been a single incident of extrajudicial killing,” he added.

 Keter has used his social media to criticize the state, especially on his X account. Recently, he simply posted: “Half Term presidency loading.” He also castigated Catholic Bishops for accepting an invitation to meet with the head of state following the recent countrywide anti-tax unrests. He wrote on X: “To our Catholic Bishops, we respect you, but we don’t fear you… If you want us to respect you, avoid him like a plague” (referring to President Ruto).

Activist Wanjira Wanjiru believes that the recent reawakening by Kenyan youth is just the beginning of a revolution. “They downplayed it, despised us, and even insulted us, but our voice was loud and clear—it couldn’t be ignored. We are just getting started in our clamor to reclaim our country,” she stated, adding: “We have been through it all, and we won’t be cowed by intimidations and barbarism.”

Columnist and blogger Gabriel Oguda, who was abducted last Monday night but later released, described his two-night experience in police cells as heart-wrenching. He said: “I made peace with my maker and closed my eyes, waiting for the killer shot.”

Veteran human rights lawyer and politician Gitobu Imanyara said Keter’s abduction marked a return to the dark days. “Our transformative 2010 constitution has been shredded into pieces. What a sad day for democracy and the stability of our country,” he noted.

Keter's abduction is the latest in a series of others targeting supporters of the anti-finance bill protests. Social media influencers who have fueled the protests have been targeted lately, despite President Ruto calling for the release of all those who were abducted.

“We still have scores of activists and protestors whose whereabouts remain a mystery, and we are witnessing even more abductions,” wondered Khalid.

Last week, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya leadership presented a report on 39 missing persons from the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

Human rights groups say they continue to receive reports from families of people who participated in the protests and cannot be accounted for.