President William Ruto is facing mounting criticism over his recent claim that all victims of enforced disappearances and abductions have been reunited with their families. Vocal Africa, a human rights organization, has sharply disputed the President’s remarks, calling them misleading and hurtful to the families still searching for their loved ones.

Speaking after Ruto’s address at State House in Nairobi, Vocal Africa CEO Hussein Khalid expressed outrage, saying the President’s statement does not reflect the lived reality of many Kenyans.

“We find this statement not only inaccurate but also deeply dismissive of the pain endured by families whose loved ones vanished during the Gen Z-led protests of 2024,” Khalid said in a press release.

Vocal Africa has been documenting cases of missing persons since the June 2024 demonstrations, using eyewitness accounts, on-the-ground investigations, and information from community networks. The group maintains that several individuals remain missing, contradicting Ruto’s assertion that all abducted or disappeared persons have been located.

Among the unresolved cases cited by the group are:

• Emmanuel Mukuria, last seen in Githurai on June 25, 2024.

• Dennis Chege and Peter Macharia, both disappeared the same day in Nairobi’s CBD.

• Martin Mbisi and Kalani Muema, allegedly abducted in Mlolongo on December 17, 2024.

“These are not isolated incidents,” the statement read. “They represent a disturbing pattern of repression and impunity that has yet to be acknowledged or addressed by the government.”

The group further called on President Ruto to meet with the affected families directly, offering to facilitate such a meeting.

“As Vocal Africa, we are ready to bring these families to meet with the President—at a location and time of his choosing—so he can hear their stories firsthand. Healing begins with truth, not denial,” the organization said.

The confrontation between the lobby group and the government adds pressure on the administration to address human rights concerns stemming from the 2024 protests and to provide clarity and accountability in cases of enforced disappearances.