Fear is spreading across Kenya after several protesters went missing during June 25 demonstrations, with families accusing security agencies of failing to account for their loved ones and rights groups warning of a possible return of enforced disappearances.
Young men picked up during the protests in Nairobi and other towns have not been seen since, despite relatives visiting police stations, hospitals and morgues in search of answers.
“We have looked everywhere. No one is telling us anything. We just want him back,” said a parent in Mathare, where tensions remain high following the demonstrations.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) says it is investigating multiple cases of missing persons linked to the protests, describing the reports as “deeply concerning” and urging security agencies to provide information on all detainees.
The commission said it is “documenting reports of arrests, injuries and alleged disappearances linked to the June 25 demonstrations,” amid growing pressure for accountability.
Rights groups say at least four activists remain unaccounted for in Nairobi alone, although some individuals earlier reported missing have since been found in hospital with serious injuries.
One of the most widely cited cases is that of Mathare activist Davis Lichuma, who disappeared during the protests and was later found alive but in critical condition.
Rights groups said he had been “brutally tortured, abandoned and left for dead” before being rushed to hospital for emergency treatment.
A fellow activist said the pattern was becoming familiar: “People disappear during protests. Some return injured. Others never return at all.”
Police have maintained that all arrests made during the demonstrations were lawful and part of crowd-control operations, insisting investigations into missing persons cases are ongoing.
However, authorities have not given details on the whereabouts of several individuals reported missing by families.
The protests, largely youth-led and spread across major cities, began peacefully but turned chaotic after police moved in with tear gas and mass arrests.
Opposition leaders and human rights organisations say the incidents point to a troubling pattern in the policing of demonstrations, warning that fear is now discouraging young people from exercising their right to protest.
The KNCHR has called for restraint, transparency and urgent disclosure of information on all persons detained during the protests, warning that continued silence could deepen public mistrust and escalate tensions.
As searches continue across police stations, hospitals and morgues, pressure is mounting on authorities to account for those still missing.
