Forced Disappearances Are Back In Garissa, Leaders Raise Alarm

A section of MCAs from Garissa have raised concern over the increasing cases of enforced disappearance in the county which they blame on security agencies.

The MCAs say that despite concerns from the local leadership and demonstrations by residents the situation continues to persist.

According to Liboi MCA Abdirahman Ali, this year alone a total of five people have been abducted and are yet to be traced.

They include Abdihakim Mohamed and Jama Adan abducted on 6th and 9th April,Osman Yussuf abducted in February while Djibril Abdullahi and Hareth Adan were abducted two months ago.

“We are here to raise our serious concerns about the enforced disappearance and extra judicial killings of our people which unfortunately have become a norm in this part of the country,” he said.

Ali said that despite numerous efforts to follow up on the matter with the relevant authorities are yet to bear fruits as the numbers of missing persons keep on increasing.

“A fortnight ago a young Abdihakim a taxi driver from my ward was picked from his homestead by people believed to be security officers and to date he is yet to be traced. This has caused a lot of anxiety and panic to not only the family members but also the residents at large who fear for their lives not knowing who will be picked next,” he said.

Abdihakim was brazenly abducted in broad daylight on Saturday, the 6th of April,2024 at DNA petrol station in Garissa town at around 17:00hrs, by men posing as security personnel using a silver Toyota probox with plate number KDE769J.

Screenshot of a CCTV footage showing Abdihakim being kidnapped and driven away in a probox by unknown persons.

Ali was flanked by other MCAs including Adow Omar (Holugho) Mohamed Abdi (Dadaab),Abdirahman Borr (Sankuri), Mohamed Sheikh (libahsigale) and Mahat Abdikadir (Modogashe).

Others were Abdiweli Aden (saka), Yunis Ibrahim (Masalani),  Omar Abdi (Damajaley), Issa Abdi (Sabena), Hassan Dahir (Baraki), Hussein Dakane (Township), Ahmed Noor Aden (Dekahrja), Idriss Ismail (Danyere), Hajir Mohamed (Abakaile) and Hajir Farah (Maalim).

The MCAs are now appealing to President William Ruto to personally intervene into the matter.

“The current government promised to stop enforced disappearance and extra judicial killings across the region. It is one of the reasons why people overwhelmingly voted for President Ruto,” Ali stated.

Nominated MP Umulkher Harun added her voice urging the president and the interior ministry to intervene.

“President William Ruto has time again said that he will not allow extra judicial killing/forceful disappearance, yet our youth are still missing. I urge the Interior Ministry to enforce the words of the President. If we remain silent we will be collecting bodies from River Tana and Yala,” she said.