Failure by police to find abductees risks loss of public confidence – MP Peter Kaluma

Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Kaluma has criticized the police for their inability to locate the abductees and apprehend those responsible for the abductions.

In a statement shared via his official X account on Sunday, January 5, 2024, Kaluma expressed regret that the police’s failure to find the victims and arrest the perpetrators has diminished public confidence in the National Police Service (NPS). The concerned MP voiced his apprehensions regarding the state of the nation and the police’s capability to perform their duties.

Kaluma suggested that the police’s failure to locate, arrest, and prosecute those who abduct innocent Kenyans could create a significant rift of distrust and further erode public confidence.

“All governments exist to protect their citizens’ life, person and property. The police is the government’s institution for this protection.

“The failure by the police to find the abductees or to arrest and present a single person involved in those instances of open abductions recorded on camera risks complete erosion and irreversible loss of public confidence in the independent National Police Service and is outright unacceptable!” the MP said.

The lawmaker further stated that police should swiftly act on the incidents and emphasised the need for security agencies to find the victims.

“What happened to the long arm of government (read police)? The State security apparatus should investigate, find and produce the missing Kenyans, fast,” he added.

Various leaders have come forward to call out the police over their failure to salvage the situation and arrest those involved.

In response to the claims of involvement in the matter through the police Inspector General, the police distanced themselves and appealed to those with relevant information on the matter to report to the nearest police station.

“The matter in question is subject to investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and any other independent body. We appeal to anybody with relevant information about any missing person to report to the nearest police station,” IG Douglas Kanja earlier said.

by Hussein Waiyaki