Abductions of protesters appear to be taking place in Kenya after anti-government protest

(6 Jul 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nairobi - 5 July 2024
1. Various of Tabitha Wanjiru Kairo and her husband David Kairo at General Kago funeral home looking for their son
2. Various of Tabitha being comforted
3. SOUNDBITE (Kiswahili) Tabitha Wanjiru Kairo, mother to Joseph Mwangi who disappeared during protests:
"Two weeks now and no help from the government. They are not helping us in any way. They should look for our children because I have searched all over but I can not trace his whereabouts. I've reported him missing at the Kasarani Police Station but the police there don't seem to care or know anything."
4. Various of relatives of Joseph Mwangi gathered in their house together with neighbours
5. SOUNDBITE (Kiswahili) Tabitha Wanjiru Kairo, mother to Joseph Mwangi who disappeared during the protests:
"Give us our children. My child did nothing wrong to anyone. Protesting in the streets is not a crime. If I was of the same age I would also be in the streets protesting. I know if I was of that age I would have also been protesting, that is why I called him to inquire if he was going o the protests. My boy did not wrong anyone. They should release our children. Why are they making us suffer?"
6. Relatives and neighbours with photos of Mwangi
7. Various of photos of Joseph Mwangi
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nairobi - 4 July 2024
8. Various of Assistant Director at Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) Samson Omondi
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Samson Omondi, Assistant Director Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR):
"We have 41 deaths. We have 35 abductions. We have 746 arrests. The injuries are numerous, so again I would maintain that this is provisional as we still continue to document more. One of the things we have done as a commission is we have sent out a missing persons alert, such that if anyone has someone missing, if anyone has someone they have looked for everywhere and they have not found them, they should report to the commission, then pass on to our constitutional mandate, we will go and carry out investigations to get to know possibly where these people are."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nairobi - 5 July 2024
10. Various of neighbours at Mwangi's home
STORYLINE:
Tabitha Wanjiru Kairo and her husband David Kairo have been searching for their missing son in police stations, hospitals and morgues hoping to find him dead or alive.
Their son went missing during recent protests against the finance bill that was being debated in parliament in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
Their 28-year-old son Joseph Mwangi was a street salesman, peddling what ever he could to make ends meet, but he had big dreams of one day becoming a police officer or soldier serving his county.
His mother Tabitha Wanjiru Kairo, has been searching everywhere.
"They (the government) should look for our children because I have searched all over but I can not trace his where abouts. I've reported him missing at the Kasarani Police Station but the police there don't seem to care or know anything," said Kairo.
Kairo believes her son didn't do anything wrong. The last time they spoke he had told her that he was hoping to join anti-government protests because he felt the cost of living in Kenya was becoming unbearable.
As a mother, Kairo is proud of her son's desire to protest, if she was younger she says she would have protested against the government too.
She urges the government to release all those who have been abducted and are missing to be released immediately and without harm.
AP video shot by Moses Ndungu
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[@mcuedits5526]

Extremely sad that President Ruto cannot reflect and understand why Kenyans are protesting. You have been full for too long . May God ser e you the justice that you deserve. Rachel Ruto prayer warrior your silence is soo loud

[@cornelmugai6192]

Ruto is messing up big time. I think he is the most hated President in Kenya. No matter what he does

[@rihkaa6289]

Watu wasinyamaze,, let's wail ,,lazima watu wajue what's happening in this dirty govt

[@estherb4826]

This is soo sad and unbelievable.

[@meandme3437]

I feel your pain mum 😔

[@user-nd3cw3ev9m]

Ruto his with museveni Kenyans don't give up Ruto must go

[@badarahmed1861]

Ruto utaenda Hague.... we shall revisit 2007 P.E.V

[@user-oo8vo9dq8b]

First comment.Langata born and raised.tunarudi nyuma..siku za Biwot?who should I be disappointed in smh.Kenyas Democracy came hard after Moi..then mukaiba..As Langata.Raila has won all the time.See ur life now!?We f tried

[@huzzinahibrahim6694]

Mimi tangu niwatch interview ya joshua okaya Human rights waangilie hii story..ukiona boys walikuwa wanapelekwa kwa court their walking style it talks alot..arrest for what?okaya was sodomided by those who arrested him ..huyu Ruto nashuku ameleta jeshi ya mseveni huku kenya

[@billymankenya]

Gen Z should feel the government's power like we felt back in the days. Not besmirching the previous generations as weak

[@jr8617]

You are just jealous of their effectiveness!

[@badarahmed1861]

We don't fear nothing