Ichung’wah Denies State’s Role in Abductions, Calls Allegations a “Conspiracy” in Tense Al Jazeera Interview

In a heated exchange on Al Jazeera’s Head to Head, Kimani Ichung’wah, Kenya’s Majority Leader in the National Assembly and a staunch ally of President William Ruto, dismissed allegations of state-sponsored abductions and enforced disappearances as a “conspiracy” aimed at tarnishing the government’s image.

The interview, hosted by Mehdi Hasan at London’s Conway Hall, saw Ichung’wah face tough questions about Kenya’s human rights record under Ruto’s administration, particularly in light of violent crackdowns on protesters during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations.

“I do not believe there are enforced disappearances perpetuated by the state in Kenya,” Ichung’wah asserted, addressing claims that Kenyan police and security services have been involved in the kidnapping and disappearance of activists.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) reports that since Ruto assumed office in 2022, at least 63 civilians have been killed, 65 individuals have been forcibly disappeared, and over 1,400 protesters have faced unlawful detention.

These figures have fueled widespread outrage, particularly among Kenya’s youth, who spearheaded the June 2024 protests against the controversial Finance Bill.

Host Mehdi Hasan pressed Ichung’wah on specific cases, including the alleged abduction of the son of former Attorney General Justin Muturi, now the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Human Capital Development.

Muturi has publicly stated that his son was taken by National Security Services after joining the 2024 protests and was only released following President Ruto’s intervention.

Ichung’wah, however, was quick to discredit Muturi’s account. “I tell you emphatically he has reasons to lie,” he said, accusing Muturi of “playing politics with a very unfortunate incident.”

In a striking aside, Ichung’wah hinted at Muturi’s precarious position in the cabinet, stating, “Justin Muturi knows he’s probably on his way out. He definitely knows it.”

The interview, which aired recently and is available on YouTube, sparked a flurry of reactions online and among Kenyan political circles.

Critics of the Ruto administration seized on Ichung’wah’s remarks as evidence of a government in denial.

“To call documented abductions a conspiracy is an insult to the families still searching for their loved ones,” tweeted prominent activist Boniface Mwangi.

Meanwhile, supporters of Ichung’wah praised his defiance, with one X user writing, “Kimani stood his ground against biased questioning. Kenya’s progress won’t be derailed by lies.”

Beyond the abduction controversy, Hasan also grilled Ichung’wah on his personal wealth, a sensitive topic amid growing public frustration with Kenyan MPs flaunting lavish lifestyles.

When asked about Minority Leader Junet Mohamed’s quip that Ichung’wah was worth 5 billion Kenyan shillings (approximately $38 million USD), the Majority Leader chuckled before clarifying, “Not 5 billion. Probably about close to 1 billion.”

His candid admission drew gasps from the live audience and reignited debates about the disconnect between Kenya’s political elite and its struggling populace.

Ichung’wah acknowledged the criticism, calling it “rather unfortunate” for MPs to flaunt their wealth online.

“Members of parliament in my party in the House who I see flaunting things that are not palatable with Kenyans, I tell them, ‘Hey bro, this is not good,’” he said.

Yet, his comments did little to quell the backlash, with many Kenyans on X pointing to his own admission of a near-billion-shilling net worth as hypocritical.

The Al Jazeera interview comes at a time of heightened political tension in Kenya, with Ruto’s administration facing mounting scrutiny over its handling of dissent.

The 2024 protests, initially sparked by the Finance Bill, evolved into a broader movement against government overreach, corruption, and economic mismanagement.

Human rights groups have accused the state of employing heavy-handed tactics, including extrajudicial killings and abductions, to silence critics—a charge Ichung’wah vehemently rejected during the interview.

Public reaction to the Head to Head episode has been polarized. On X, some hailed Hasan’s rigorous questioning, with one user posting, “Mehdi didn’t let Ichung’wah off the hook—finally someone holding these leaders accountable.”

Others, however, accused the host of pushing a “Western agenda” against Kenya’s government, with a pro-Ruto commenter writing, “Mehdi Hasan tried to ambush Kimani, but he showed the world Kenya won’t bow to foreign pressure.”

As the debate over Kenya’s political climate intensifies, Ichung’wah’s remarks on Al Jazeera are likely to fuel further controversy, both at home and abroad.

For now, the allegations of state-sponsored abductions remain a contentious issue, with critics demanding concrete answers and the government steadfastly denying any involvement.

The full interview can be viewed on YouTube.