Pressure continues to mount on President Uhuru Kenyatta to launch a judicial commission of inquiry into widespread cases of enforced disappearances in the country.
Two leading global rights organisations, the Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, want Kenya acknowledge the “troubling” increase of enforced disappearances and suspected abductions, often allegedly committed by security agencies.
This came as the world marks the United Nations International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
The day is observed on August 30 across the globe.
"Enforced disappearances are both illegal and devastating to families. [It] causes untold suffering to relatives and friends, who often never learn whether their loved one is alive or dead,” said Otieno Namwaya, Africa researcher at the New York-based HRW.
“In the face of strong evidence of the involvement of state security forces and the numerous allegations of enforced disappearances in Kenya, President Kenyatta should commit to launching a commission of inquiry.” Namwaya added.
Early last month, HRW has documented at least 34 missing persons mainly in North Eastern and Nairobi. The victims are mainly terror suspects.
According to international human rights law, an enforced disappearance occurs when a person has been detained by government officials or their agents, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of the person’s liberty or to disclose the fate or whereabouts of the person.
Namwaya said Muslim communities are among those most affected by disappearances, “caught between the threat of the armed militant group, al Shabaab, and security forces that carry out abusive counter-terrorism operations”.
“While Kenyan government officials often condemn al Shabaab’s horrific violence, they remain troublingly silent about security forces’ role in enforced disappearances,” he said.
The government has often dismissed accusations leveled against the country's security agencies sometimes suggested al Shabaab may have killed these people.
“But without credible investigations into the disappearances and considering Kenya’s counter-terrorism response, these assertions should comfort no one,” Namwaya said.
Amnesty International secretary general Salil Shetty, termed disappearance as “cruel” to victims and families.
The London-based group said enforced disappearances have “become commonplace”.
He urged governments to form judicial commission of inquiry and establish “comprehensive accountability framework consistent with international human rights standards”
“Despite compelling evidence, the authorities continue to deny that the problem is systemic,” Shetty said.
These remarks come as increasing incidents of disappearances at the hands of security agents continue to be reported.
Earlier in August, is said to have gone missing after last being seen by three security agents.
The police officers, together with a taxi driver, were arraigned on Monday.
The medic's body was later traced at the Machakos mortuary on Tuesday.
In July, a human rights lawyer went missing together with his client and their taxi driver.
were linked to their disappearance and are currently undergoing trial for their torture and murder.