President William Ruto urged parents to "take responsibility" for their children while promising to end abductions that have sparked outrage. Speaking in Homa Bay, he emphasized the need for parental guidance alongside efforts to ensure youth safety.

Kenyan President William Ruto has pledged to put an end to abductions following a wave of disappearances that have drawn widespread condemnation from rights groups, lawyers, and political leaders.

Security forces in Kenya have faced allegations of conducting numerous illegal detentions since youth-led anti-government protests in June and July. While police deny involvement, activists have raised concerns about the lack of investigations into the disappearances, suggesting a lack of accountability.

The recent cases primarily involve young men who have criticized Ruto on social media. Rights groups have dismissed police denials and are demanding decisive action.

Addressing a crowd in Homa Bay, a town in western Kenya, Ruto vowed to stop the abductions but also urged parents to take greater responsibility for their children.
"We are going to stop the abductions so that our youth can live peacefully," he stated, as reported by local media.

In his annual state of the nation address in November, Ruto condemned any form of "excessive or extrajudicial" measures but defended some detentions as lawful actions against "criminals and subversive elements."

Public frustration continues to rise, with the latest incidents triggering small-scale protests in at least one town. The Law Society of Kenya has called on police to take immediate action, asserting, "If indeed the police are not complicit, they must investigate and prosecute those responsible."

Human Rights Watch reported earlier this year that evidence pointed to the involvement of a special unit comprising members from various security agencies.

Ruto’s comments follow recent allegations by former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, who accused a clandestine security unit of orchestrating the disappearances.
"Abducting these children and killing them is not a solution... This is the first administration in the history of this country to target children for repression," Gachagua claimed.

The issue has amplified calls for justice and transparency as citizens demand accountability from their leaders.