Human rights organisations, the clergy and human rights defenders have called for the criminalisation of enforced disappearances in Kenya and the full operationalisation of the Victim Protection Act, 2014.

The organisations led by Missing Voices, convened at Muhuri Legal Clinic Ground in Mombasa to raise concerns over cases of missing persons and launch the Haki Kwa Wote campaign.

The campaign seeks to create awareness on human rights, protect survivors and victims and demand justice for families affected by enforced disappearances.

Speaking during the event, Grace Wangechi Kaguria, a representative of Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) and member of Missing Voices, said the organisations had convened their Police Reforms Working Group to address concerns surrounding missing persons and enforced disappearances.

“Thirty-eight (38) cases of persons who disappeared were recorded in 2019 while 10 were reported in 2020, 36 in 2021, 22 in 2022, 10 in 2023, 55 in 2024, six in 2025 and 19 cases in 2026,” Wangechi said.

The IMLU representative expressed concern over the pain, trauma and anxiety experienced by families when their loved ones disappear, noting that the effects extend to families and the wider community.

Wangechi said families and victims have come together to call for an end to all forms of enforced disappearances and abductions, urging the government to criminalise enforced disappearance.

“One of our major roles of our organisations is to provide services and support to families who have lost their loved ones through disappearances, including victims who have been released and those who have not received compensation,” Wangechi said.

Wangechi further called for the strengthening of the Victim Protection Agency and the National Commission on Human Rights to enable them to effectively carry out their mandates. Muslim for Human Rights Chairman Khelef Khalifa said the Constitution must be strictly adhered to and families of victims informed about the whereabouts of their loved ones.

He said arrested persons should be taken to court in accordance with the law, adding that the law must be applied fairly to every Kenyan.

National Police Service spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga, representing Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, said the police service has a responsibility to ensure the safety and security of citizens, noting the need for collaborative efforts in addressing cases of enforced disappearances.

“It is our collaborative responsibility to come together to condemn all forms of criminality,” Nyaga said.

He further said the National Police Service holds a significant responsibility to the country, while pointing to appearances by Inspector General and Deputy Inspector General before courts in relation to summons concerning enforced disappearance cases.

Reverend Elias Agola, the Director of the Justice, Peace, Reconciliation and Creation (JPRC) – a department of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) – appealed to the government to put in place laws that would protect citizens against enforced disappearances while condemning cases of people going missing.

Agola urged Kenyans to work with established institutions to promote cohesion, noting that security agencies had been put in place to adequate measures protect citizens.

“The constitution and its organs should work to serve the citizens,” Agola said.

International Justice Mission Country Director Vincent Chahale said the launch marked a bold step in efforts to push the government and Legislature to enact laws that criminalise enforced disappearance.

“We also want to achieve full operationalisation of the Victim Protection Act to take care of the interests of victims,” Chahale said.

The organisations said the campaign would seek to strengthen the protection of victims and survivors while pushing for accountability and justice for families affected by enforced disappearances. A Tell Media / KNA report / By Vincent Kiptoo