Kenyan police fired teargas in Nairobi on Monday to disperse protesters rallying against a surge in alleged abductions of government critics, eyewitnesses told media.
Human rights groups report that dozens of people have been abducted in recent months, blaming these incidents on Kenya’s police and intelligence agencies. The government has denied any involvement in extrajudicial actions, asserting its opposition to such practices.
Protesters, many of them young Kenyans, marched through downtown Nairobi while others staged sit-ins, chanting anti-government slogans and holding placards condemning illegal detentions. Local broadcaster NTV aired footage of the demonstrations.
The national police spokesperson has yet to comment on the unrest.
The alleged abductions come in the wake of months of anti-government protests that began in June. Initially sparked by opposition to proposed tax hikes, the demonstrations have grown into a broader movement challenging President William Ruto’s administration, cutting across Kenya’s traditional ethnic divides.
The protests represent one of the most significant challenges to Ruto’s leadership since he took office.
