Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has cast doubt on some abduction reports in the country, saying there are cases where individuals may be faking disappearances to win public sympathy and discredit the government.
Murkomen said the current administration has put an end to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, stressing that all security operations are carried out within the law. He insisted that claims of ongoing abductions do not reflect the situation on the ground.
“Cases of abduction and extrajudicial killings are no more in our government. The President and the Ministry of Interior have ensured there are no insecurity issues. We are a government of the rule of law. We only deal with criminals according to the rule of law. You have seen some people abducting themselves. They are doing that to get sympathy,” he said on Monday.
According to the CS, some of the reported cases could be carefully planned to create a false impression of insecurity. He cited the situation involving former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju, which initially caused concern before investigators established his whereabouts.
“The other day, I was on a plane from London, and I was told that former CS Raphael Tuju is missing. I asked the DCI, and they said that his family claimed he was missing, but according to investigations, he was in his house,” he said.
Murkomen called on the courts to take action against anyone found to have staged such incidents, warning that failure to hold them accountable could encourage more similar cases. He also urged Kenyans to be cautious about sharing unconfirmed reports, noting that security agencies depend on verified intelligence.
“DCI told me not to worry because Tuju switched off his phone, which they said happened at his residence. I asked them to verify. The family had reported to the police but had asked officers not to go to their home. Later, police went to the residence,” he added.
The comments come after Tuju’s alleged disappearance drew public attention before authorities clarified the situation.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations dismissed claims of abduction, stating that findings showed Tuju never left his Karen home during the period in question. DCI Director Amin Mohammed said intelligence gathered by a multi-agency team confirmed his presence at the residence.
“The DCI conclusively established that Raphael Tuju was physically present within his residence throughout the period in question,” Amin said.
Police further stated that Tuju’s phone was switched off on the evening of March 21 while he was believed to be at home. He later resurfaced and was arrested, with authorities citing the provision of false information and concerns linked to national security.
