Telecommunication company Safaricom is on the spot again after the “abduction” of Juja Member of Parliament George Koimburi.
The United Opposition, led by Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua, has issued a statement demanding that Safaricom should be held accountable for the abduction of Kenyans.
In the press briefing on May 27, the opposition said it is deeply disturbed by the growing role of private sector enablers in this crackdown.
The leaders have accused Safaricom of working with the government to trace and help in the abduction of citizens.
“We call out telecommunication companies in particular Safaricom, which may have turned a blind eye, or worse, actively collaborated with the regime to surveil, trace, and aid the abduction of citizens,” reads part of the statement.
“We demand that they publicly account for the data they provide to security agencies and affirm their commitment to protecting the rights and privacy of their customers.”
Additionally, the opposition has criticized politician funding the abductors and individuals in the diplomatic community who do not call out the government.
“We equally put on notice all political and business elites-those who fund the goon squads, those who lobby for the maintenance of tyranny, and those in the diplomatic community who remain silent as Kenya burns. History will remember your complicity,” they said.
They have urged Kenyans not to be silenced by the current regime.
The leaders argued that the repression Kenyans face today is not just about politics but also the very soul of our nation.
“When voices are muted through fear, when leaders are abducted broad day light, and when bullets are fired at peaceful gatherings, the silence of one becomes the silence of all,” adds the statement.
“We urge every citizen, civil society group, religious leaders, and international allies to stand in solidarity with us in demanding.”
They demanded for an immediate cessation of all politically motivated violence, abductions and extrajudicial killings.
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More Demands to Govt & Safaricom
Besides, the opposition has called for accountability for the telcos and private actors enabling illegal surveillance, tracking, and data breaches.
Other demands include an end to state-backed disruption of peaceful political assemblies and protection of constitutional rights.
Some of these rights include freedom of assembly, association, expression, and political participation.
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Message to Ruto
Further, the leaders stated that President William Ruto is not immune from prosecution for crimes against humanity like abductions, torture, forced disappearances, murders, gender-based violence and other crimes.
The opposition also condemned the murder of two Catholic Priests, namely Fathers John Maina and Aloise Bett.
“We are in solidarity with the Catholic faithful and Kenyans in demanding for Justice against these heinous crimes,” the leaders said.
They added that the violations are not only a gross violation of the Kenyan Constitution but also a violation of the African charter on human and peoples’ rights and other international human rights statutes.
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