‘Economy For Who If You’re Killing And Abducting The Young Ones?’ Muturi Renews His Attacks On Ruto, Urging Him To End Abductions And Extrajudicial Killings

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has renewed his attacks on President William Ruto calling to an end to the abductions and extrajudicial killings in the country.

“We cannot take it as business as usual. We must address this matter to its finality with a view to getting to the root cause of it,” Muturi told the press at City Mortuary where he had joined the families of the two Mlolongo victims.

Muturi in his direct challenge to the president, questioned the government’s commitment to protecting its citizens.

He has criticized the government’s apparent inaction in the face of widespread reports of young Kenyans being abducted, only to be found dead days or weeks later.

“It’s not right that parents and relatives can stay for periods in excess of 40 days looking for their loved ones, and you sit somewhere claiming that you’re discussing matters of the economy,” Muturi declared. “Economy for who if you’re killing and abducting the young ones?”

Muturi’s critique underscores a growing sentiment that the state’s priorities are misaligned with the needs of its citizens. While the government touts economic reforms and regional diplomacy, families are left grieving and searching for answers about their missing loved ones.

Before the bodies of the Mlolongo 3 were eventually found on Thursday, the families had spent sleepless nights looking for their loved ones everywhere hoping to find them alive only to find them dead in a morgue.

The fate of one remaining individual Kalani Mwema, remain unknown.

Muturi also took aim at the police, questioning their efficiency and commitment to solving these crimes. “We can’t be told that the police don’t know. Our police is known to be one of the most efficient in this region, and therefore if they wanted to crack this matter and bring the culprits to book, it would be a matter of days or hours,” he asserted.

End the abductions and killings

The Cabinet Secretary called on President Ruto to take decisive action. “Mr. President, order an end to these abductions and extrajudicial killings and an open inquiry into how these things have been happening,” Muturi demanded.

Muturi’s as a father also recollected his own son had been abducted, but he was able to secure his release after reaching out to the President directly. “I was lucky that when my son was abducted, I was able to reach the President, and he immediately ordered Noordin Haji to release him. How about these parents who cannot reach the President?” he asked.

Muturi also addressed the broader implications of these abductions for Kenya’s national identity and moral standing. “Why are we allowing young boys and girls to be kidnapped, only later to be found killed? Surely, what kind of country are we? And we’re pretending to be solving issues in DRC? This is a very serious issue,” Muturi lamented. His reference to Kenya’s involvement in regional peacekeeping efforts, such as in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), underscores the irony of a nation projecting stability abroad while grappling with lawlessness at home.

Muturi insisted on the need for the government to prioritize the discussion and an order to end the menace.

Muturi proposed to have a commission of inquiry be formed to probe the ever-escalating cases. “Government exists to protect the lives and property of the citizens, and the head of Government is the President. This matter must be discussed. These are citizens whose lives have been taken at a very young age,” he emphasized.

He also emphasized that during the campaign period, President Ruto vowed to end forced disappearances, yet they continued unabated.

“The buck must stop with the government. Mr. President, I am calling upon you now to order an end to these abductions and open an inquiry to examine how these things have been happening. We cannot normalize this. These are very young lives that have been taken away. Their parents have been agonizing,” he stated.

He proposed the formation of a commission of inquiry comprising representatives from the Law Society of Kenya, religious groups, and civil society organizations such as Amnesty International Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission to unearth the truth.

This comes as human rights groups intimate that the two missing Mlolongo men could be lying at the Nairobi Funeral Home.

Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo, who was accompanying Muturi alleged that the families of those who were abducted have been threatened not to speak and record statements on their ordeal.

“I call upon Kenyans to come out and report what they have seen or undergone. The young abductees who have come out say they feel like they were in military confinement. So something very illegal is happening in this country,” said Maanzo.

At the same time, Senator Edwin Sifuna has accused Nairobi City Mortuary, its management and the Nairobi City County Government of complacency in the abduction and killing of Kenyans.

“Nairobi City Mortuary, its management and the County Government are complicit in the abduction and killing of Kenyans. How is it the bodies of the men from Mlolongo have been there since December 18 and when families visited the facility they couldn’t find them? It is clear the management is in cahoots with the abductors and must be held to account.”