How Kenya's practice of enforced disappearance undermines democracy

In today’s edition of *The Standard* newspaper, Kamau Ngugi, Executive Director of the Defenders Coalition, explains how the phenomenon of enforced disappearance undermines Kenya’s democracy. "We are increasingly witnessing what we term democratic backsliding. Kenya is a democracy, and in a democracy, people do not always agree. They may hold differing opinions and views. Yet, democracy thrives on the respectful exchange of opinions. We find ourselves in a situation where political differences—or views that diverge from those of the leadership—automatically lead to conflict." The phenomenon of enforced disappearance in Kenya is a serious issue that cuts deep into the country’s democracy. Let me briefly explain what lies behind it and why it is so dangerous. In a case of enforced disappearance, a person is abducted by unknown groups—often linked to security forces. Officials deny knowing the individual's whereabouts; the family does not know where their loved one is, or whether they are alive or dead. Torture and other forms of severe abuse often follow. Those most affected are people who are politically active or stand up for democracy: journalists, human rights defenders, activists, and sometimes even ordinary protesters. They are viewed as a threat to the government's hold on power. Why does this undermine democracy? There are several aspects: - Intimidation and fear. Such cases create a climate of fear. People worry that they, too, could disappear if they voice their opinions or organize protests. This stifles freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and political participation—the very pillars of democracy. - Violation of rights. Enforced disappearance violates fundamental human rights enshrined in the Kenyan Constitution and international agreements (e.g., the right to life and the right to liberty and security). - Loss of trust. When state authorities are either actively involved in such actions or systematically fail to investigate, clarify the facts, and prosecute perpetrators, the public loses faith in the rule of law and democratic institutions. - Normalization of violence. If such practices persist over a long period without consistent punishment, they may gradually become socially accepted. This jeopardizes the social contract upon which a democracy is built. What exacerbates the situation? - There is no specific national legislation in Kenya addressing enforced disappearance. - The country has not ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. This makes it difficult for families and civil society to rely on clear legal grounds when demanding justice. - The government often denies involvement or frames these cases as part of a broader counter-terrorism strategy, further fueling public fear. Real-world examples: Such cases have been repeatedly documented in recent years—for instance, during the protests against the 2024 Finance Bill or at commemorative events marking the 2024 protests. There is no single, official aggregate figure for all abductions in Kenya during the 2024 calendar year; available data varies depending on the source and definition (criminal abductions vs. enforced disappearances). Key available figures - State of National Security Report (presented to Parliament): 52 abduction/kidnapping cases between September 2023 and August 2024 (a 44% increase compared to 36 cases in the previous 12-month period). Cases were distributed across all regions, with the sharpest rise in the coastal region (from 2 to 14). Motives often involved ransom demands or human trafficking. - Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR): At least 82 abduction cases in 2024 alone (predominantly since the protests began in June 2024), of which only 29 were resolved; 29 individuals remained missing (as of the end of 2024). - Police (Inspector General Douglas Kanja, as of November 2024): 57 reported abduction/kidnapping cases since the youth protests began on June 18, 2024; of these, 22 were found alive, 29 remained missing, and 6 were found dead. The police denied systematic involvement. - Missing Voices Report 2024: 55 cases of enforced disappearance throughout 2024—an increase of approximately 450% compared to just 10 cases in 2023. Combined with extrajudicial killings, there were 159 cases of murder and abduction in total (with approximately 104 linked to police involvement). June saw the highest number of cases. And these are the figures for 2024. Die Zahlen sind also je nach Definition und Berichtszeitraum unterschiedlich und spiegeln vor allem die starke Zunahme politischer bzw. protestbezogener Fälle 2024 wider. Ende Dezember 2024 wurden noch 29 Personen vermisst. Überblick über die Zahlen (2024–2026) Juni–Dezember 2024: Die Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) meldete 82 Entführungsfälle, davon waren Ende Dezember 2024 noch 29 Personen vermisst. September 2023–August 2024: Ein staatlicher Sicherheitsbericht verzeichnete 52 Entführungsfälle (ein Anstieg von 44% gegenüber dem Vorjahreszeitraum mit 36 Fällen). Januar 2025–März 2026 (Kinderfälle): Im Rahmen des Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS) wurden 1.952 Entführungen von Kindern registriert – dies ist jedoch eine spezifische Kategorie (Kinderschutzfälle) und nicht direkt mit den oben genannten allgemeinen/politisch motivierten Entführungen vergleichbar Das gewaltsame Verschwindenlassen ist nicht nur eine Menschenrechtsverletzung, sondern ein Systemproblem, das die Grundlagen der Demokratie in Kenia ernsthaft gefährdet. Die Lösung liegt darin, unabhängige Untersuchungen durchzuführen, Gesetze anzupassen und die Verantwortlichen zur Rechtsstellung zu ziehen.  Weiterlesen unter https://epaper.standardmedia.co.ke/issue/4863 #EndEnforcedDisappearances https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5033036 https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/opinion/article/2001557872/enforced-disappearances-are-eroding-kenyas-democracy https://khrc.or.ke/press-release/we-were-forcefully-disappeared-and-tortured-but-we-refuse-to-be-broken/ https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5033036 https://www.globalissues.org/news/2024/09/02/37545 https://khrc.or.ke/press-release/we-were-forcefully-disappeared-and-tortured-but-we-refuse-to-be-broken/ https://www.amnesty.de/informieren/amnesty-report/kenia-2025 https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/opinion/article/2001557872/enforced-disappearances-are-eroding-kenyas-democracy https://khrc.or.ke/press-release/we-were-forcefully-disappeared-and-tortured-but-we-refuse-to-be-broken https://khrc.or.ke/press-release/we-were-forcefully-disappeared-and-tortured-but-we-refuse-to-be-broken/ https://tacticsinstitute.com/africa/terrorism-redefined-kenyas-state-violence-and-the-criminalization-of-protest