Amnesty Challenges Ruto to Act on Enforced Disappearances and Human Rights

Amnesty International Kenya has challenged President William Ruto to turn his recent human rights assurances into concrete action as concerns over enforced disappearances and other alleged violations continue to emerge.

The organisation welcomed the President’s recent declaration that no Kenyan should lose their life, liberty or dignity for criticising the Government, expressing an unpopular opinion or participating in a peaceful demonstration.

However, Amnesty said the declaration must now be followed by action, calling on the Government to investigate allegations of enforced disappearances, establish the fate of missing Kenyans and ensure victims and their families receive justice and reparations.

In a statement released on August 30, Amnesty International Kenya cited Missing Voices Coalition data showing that 19 cases of enforced disappearance and 69 police killings have been recorded in Kenya so far this year.

“These are not merely statistics. Behind every case is a person whose liberty was taken away and a family left searching for answers,” the statement read.

The demands come days after Ruto acknowledged allegations of unlawful arrests, enforced disappearances and excessive lethal force linked to the 2024 Gen Z protests and 2025 anniversary demonstrations, and said credible human rights violations should be independently and transparently investigated.

Kenya has also faced scrutiny over previous cases, with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reporting at least 63 deaths and 74 forcible disappearances during the 2024 protests, including 26 people who remained missing.

Amnesty is now demanding that every allegation of enforced disappearance be investigated promptly, independently, impartially, thoroughly and transparently, including cases reported during the 2024 protests and thereafter.

It wants the Government to disclose the fate and whereabouts of every person subjected to enforced disappearance and ensure that anyone still unlawfully detained is released or promptly brought before an independent and impartial court.

The organisation is further calling for those responsible to be prosecuted where there is sufficient evidence, regardless of their rank or position, while demanding stronger command and individual accountability within security agencies so that responsibility does not end with junior officers.

“We have also called for stronger and more independent oversight of security agencies, including adequate resources for the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and the Internal Affairs Unit. It further wants Kenya to ratify and domesticate the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance,” the statement read

With Kenya heading towards the 2027 General Election, Amnesty warned that political dissent, peaceful protests and criticism of the Government must not be met with arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture or excessive force, saying the real test of Ruto’s recent promise will be whether those rights are protected in practice.