Former Chief Justice David Maraga has issued a stern rebuke to President William Ruto following the Head of State’s remarks that all Kenyans who had been abducted during recent protests have since been reunited with their families.

In a public statement released on Tuesday, May 13, Maraga termed the President’s assertions as “unconscionable,” especially coming at a time when many families across the country are still desperately seeking answers about their missing loved ones.

“Such utterances are deeply hurtful, especially to parents still mourning the loss of their children. How long shall the lives of innocent Kenyans be so devalued and dismissed?” Maraga asked.

The former Chief Justice was responding to remarks made by President Ruto during a joint press briefing on May 12 with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, where Ruto said:

“All the people who disappeared or were abducted in what you said (Gen Z protests) have been brought back to their families and their homes.”

President Ruto also claimed that measures were being implemented to prevent any future incidents of enforced disappearances, emphasizing:

“I have given firm instructions that nothing of that kind of nature will ever happen again. It was my commitment as I became President that the extrajudicial disappearance of Kenyans would not be part of what we are doing as a nation.”

However, Maraga noted that such claims contradict ongoing cases, such as that of Brian Odhiambo, who was reportedly abducted four months ago. His mother continues to search for him, with no word on his whereabouts.

Maraga further cited the Missing Voices civic coalition report, which documented 159 cases of killings and enforced disappearances in 2024. Of these, 104 were police killings while 55 were enforced disappearances.

“Kenyans hunger for a nation that protects its children, a government that values human lives, and a leadership that speaks the truth—especially when truth is fundamental to justice,” said Maraga.

He also called for the urgent ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and for national legislation to criminalize and prevent such human rights violations.

In recent weeks, renewed calls for justice have surged across Kenya, particularly following a heartfelt Mother’s Day petition by families of young people reportedly killed or disappeared during the June 2024 protests.

As the country continues to heal and seek accountability, the tension between official statements and the reality on the ground raises pressing questions about transparency, justice, and the protection of fundamental human rights in Kenya.