Aasai

Former Attorney General and Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has raised the alarm over what he sees as a growing and dangerous trend of unlawful abductions by security forces in Kenya. He has described these operations—where citizens are seized without due process—as acts of “state terrorism.” According to Muturi, such tactics signify not an evolution of modern policing, but a grave regression into authoritarianism, where the state uses fear and force to control its people instead of the rule of law.

In a strongly worded statement titled “Abducting Kenyans Is Not Law Enforcement, It Is State Terrorism,” Muturi condemned the increasing cases of individuals being picked up by law enforcement without any formal procedures. He emphasized that the use of masked or plainclothes officers driving unmarked vehicles, often conducting these abductions at night, represents a disturbing shift in law enforcement culture that undermines constitutional democracy. These actions, he asserted, are inconsistent with any civilized notion of justice.

Muturi painted a worrying picture of how these abductions typically unfold. Victims are often taken from their homes or streets without being told the reasons for their arrest, nor are they given access to lawyers or contact with their families. They are detained in secret locations, sometimes for days, without being brought before a court. This, Muturi argued, is a flagrant violation of Article 49 of the Kenyan Constitution, which clearly outlines the rights of arrested persons, including timely legal representation and presentation before a magistrate within 24 hours.

He made it clear that what is happening is not law enforcement, but a collapse into lawlessness by the very agencies meant to protect the rule of law. These abductions, according to Muturi, bear the hallmarks of police states and dictatorships where fear, rather than justice, governs society. He noted that no legitimate police institution should operate under such conditions, where the identity of officers is concealed and legal procedures are disregarded.

What troubles Muturi even more is how normalized these acts have become in the eyes of the public and the media. He criticized how the term “arrest” is now being used to describe what are actually illegal abductions. This, he warned, fosters a dangerous culture of impunity where abuses by state agents are tolerated or ignored. When citizens no longer question these violations, democratic principles are gradually eroded and the Constitution becomes hollow.

He emphasized that many of those being targeted are not criminals but rather citizens who speak out, protest, or challenge government policies. He believes these actions are politically motivated and designed to intimidate dissenters. Muturi called for the immediate disbandment of such covert operations and insisted that President William Ruto and the Ministry of Interior must act decisively to restore lawfulness and public trust in security institutions.

Muturi made it clear that his remarks were not politically driven but stemmed from a deep commitment to the Constitution and the protection of individual rights. He warned that no country can claim to be a democracy while using its security agencies to silence citizens through fear. “When the law is suspended for one,” he concluded, “it is suspended for all.” His message serves as a wake-up call to safeguard the rights and freedoms guaranteed to all Kenyans.