Defence CS Aden Duale has assured Kenyans that forced disappearance and extrajudicial killings in Northeastern will be a thing of the past under President William Ruto administration.
Duale who was speaking at a function in Garissa Town on Sunday accused former President Uhuru Kenyatta's regime of orchestrating extrajudicial cases in the region.
The former Garissa township MP said that he will ensure the rights of all Kenyan citizens are protected as enshrined in the constitution.
"As a region, we have lost our children to extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances under the leadership of former President Uhuru Kenyatta. I want to assure the people of Northeastern and Kenyans at large that such things will never happen," Duale said.
“The government will respect the rule of law and anyone who is caught on the wrong side or suspected of committing any crime will be taken to court because that is what should happen in a civilised society."
During the campaigns, Ruto assured the residents that his administration will not only protect the lives of Kenyans but investigate past cases of enforced disappearances.
“I want to assure you that there will be no enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. It is unfortunate that this region has lost hundreds of men which has left many women, widowers and orphans," Ruto said then.
"This really pains me. This will come to an end with the Kenya kwanza government. If somebody is suspected to be involved in any form of illegal activities the law will take its course."
According to Abdishukri Jelle-Garissa county Muhuri coordinator, the lobby is currently dealing with 60 cases of people who disappeared without a trace since 2020.
“And these are just some of the cases that have been reported to us yet we know there are many more individuals who were picked from their homes and streets by people believed to be security officers never to be seen again to date,” he told the Star on phone.
Another Garissa-based human rights activist Khalif Nunde welcomed the government's move to put an end to the heinous crimes committed by the police noting in the region.
“It is encouraging that such sentiments are coming from the Defense CS. We believe Duale will have an upper hand in ensuring these atrocities are stopped,"Nunde said.
He urged the residents of Northeastern and concerned stakeholders to support Ruto’s administration in ending extrajudicial killings.
“We also believe that those who were involved in past cases will be brought to book,” he said.
In his speech on Mashujaa Day speech, Ruto directed investigations into incidences where police officers have been accused of extrajudicial killings.
