Kenya Official Dismisses Claims of Government Abductions.
A top Kenyan leader says reports of the government kidnapping its critics are false. Kimani Ichung'wah spoke out against what he calls made-up stories about state violence.
"The government does not grab people because of social media posts," said Ichung'wah, who leads the ruling party in Kenya's parliament. He thinks some people create fake stories about being taken.
He claims certain critics vanish with their dates at rental homes. Then they return days later saying the state took them. He believes others set off tear gas at their events to blame the police.
The official brought up past cases of real violence. He pointed to River Yala, where people found 40 bodies between 2021 and 2022. A report called Missing Voices shared these findings last year.
Ichung'wah says his team can handle harsh words online. "Write what you want about us," he stated. The law already covers computer crimes, he added.
He thinks some leaders plan to hide on purpose. They want people to think the government took them, he says. These claims aim to anger Kenyans and cause protests like those from last June.
The parliament leader sees these actions as tricks. He says small meetings do not need tear gas to break up, and he thinks people make up stories about police stopping their gatherings.
A top Kenyan leader says reports of the government kidnapping its critics are false. Kimani Ichung'wah spoke out against what he calls made-up stories about state violence.
"The government does not grab people because of social media posts," said Ichung'wah, who leads the ruling party in Kenya's parliament. He thinks some people create fake stories about being taken.
He claims certain critics vanish with their dates at rental homes. Then they return days later saying the state took them. He believes others set off tear gas at their events to blame the police.
The official brought up past cases of real violence. He pointed to River Yala, where people found 40 bodies between 2021 and 2022. A report called Missing Voices shared these findings last year.
Ichung'wah says his team can handle harsh words online. "Write what you want about us," he stated. The law already covers computer crimes, he added.
He thinks some leaders plan to hide on purpose. They want people to think the government took them, he says. These claims aim to anger Kenyans and cause protests like those from last June.
The parliament leader sees these actions as tricks. He says small meetings do not need tear gas to break up, and he thinks people make up stories about police stopping their gatherings.
