Human Rights Activist and Haki Afrika Executive Director Hussein Khalid has reported the discovery of a young man’s body.
According to Khalid, the body was found naked, with clothes lying beside it in Kiambu County.
In images seen by The Kenya Times, nearby clothes and shoes were visible with the body lying facing down.
“Just received information that the body of a young man has been found by the roadside in a place called Kawaida on your way to Banana, Kiambu,” he said.
“Our team is currently working on the case, trying to confirm the identity and his family. The body was found naked with clothes nearby.”
John Muchiri Body Discovered
The real identity of the body had been confirmed by his family as John Muchiri Muthoni. He was last seen on Friday January 3.
“The deceased has been identified as John Muchiri Muthoni, aged 27. He was last seen on Friday, 3rd January 2025, at around 3 PM,” Khalid said.
His girlfriend reportedly received a call from an unknown number, directing her to find his body by the roadside.
“We are working with the family and authorities in organizing a postmortem for the body found by the roadside in Kawaida,” read the statement by Vocal Africa.
“The body has been moved to Kihara Sub-County Hospital Mortuary.”
Also Read: Gachagua Fires Back at Ichung’wah Over Abduction Claims
The devastating news comes a day after the body of 24-year-old activist Ibrahim Hilal Mwiti, who went missing in November last year, was found at Thika Level Five Hospital mortuary.
Mwiti was last seen in Nairobi’s city center before he disappeared, prompting a search by his family, while his friends turned to social media platforms to help locate him.
The family filed a missing person report at Kamukunji Police Station on November 15, 2024, under OB number 80A/13/11/24.
Over the past six months, cases of abductions and enforced disappearances have become increasingly common, with parents living in fear of their youth vanishing without a trace.
Increased Cases of Abductions
According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), at least 82 cases of abductions have been reported since June last year, when youths took to the streets to protest against the Finance Bill.
In the last three months of 2024, at least 13 abduction cases were recorded, with December alone accounting for seven, the Commission earlier.
It has now been more than two weeks, and the whereabouts of six young Kenyans, believed to have been abducted by state security officers, remain unknown, leaving their families to enter the new year with many unanswered questions.
Despite accusations that security agencies were behind the abductions, which began after youth-led protests in June last year, the National Police Service has denied any involvement.
Also Read: DPP Issues Ultimatum to IG Kanja and IPOA Over Abduction of 6 Kenyans
Ruto on Abductions
President William Ruto, on December 27, vowed to end the abductions in order to restore public trust in national security but remained reserved on the details.
The head of state further urged parents to take a leading role in mentoring and protecting their children, emphasizing the importance of peace in the nation.
“We all want to walk together. I want to urge all parents that our children are a blessing from God, and you should take care of them, and the government will do our part,” said Ruto.
He further added, “And what has been said… abduction matters. We will stop them so that Kenyan youth can live in peace and have discipline, so we can build Kenya together.”
On Friday, January 3, the head of State called on the Inspector General of Police and the National Police Service (NPS) to answer questions from Kenyans regarding the recent abductions, as pressure continues to mount over the whereabouts of the six abducted youths.
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