Human rights groups in Kenya have expressed concern over the arrest of government critics

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) – Kenya's National Human Rights Commission has expressed concern over the increase in the number of government critics suspected of being kidnapped as four people were reported missing over the weekend, bringing the number of hostages to 82 since the apartheid era. government protests in June.

Four social media users went missing after they shared AI-generated photos of President William Ruto taken by supporters of the government.

The rights commission on Thursday warned that Kenya is returning to the “dark days” of the disappearance of government critics. Arrests and torture of opposition groups were commonplace under the late President Daniel Moi's administration.

“We wish to remind the NPS (police) of its role in protecting Kenyans from violent acts like these, especially that these abductions happened in broad daylight, some of them were captured on CCTV but so far no one has been arrested,” the commission said. chairman Roselyne Odede said.

Human rights organizations claim that the police in this country are responsible for the abduction of people by human rights organizations – they deny that they are involved and say that they are investigating the disappearance of these people.

A joint statement by 21 human rights organizations issued on Wednesday called on the police to arrest those involved in the kidnapping.

“Any failure to act sets a dangerous precedent and will only embolden human rights violations,” the statement read.

In October, nine European delegations expressed concern over the enforced disappearances and urged Ruto to ensure justice.

These delegates spoke after four Turkish people were kidnapped in Kenya and returned to their countries despite being registered with the UN as in need of asylum, citing threats to their lives at home.

Kenya was among several African countries elected to the UN Human Rights Council on Oct. 9.