Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has acknowledged that the government does not possess official statistics on abductions and enforced disappearances.

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV, Murkomen revealed that only 13 cases of missing persons have been reported to police since the start of the year.

“From January to now, the reported cases of missing persons are 13. Some of these are linked to the period of budget-related demonstrations, while others have been reported from various parts of the country,” he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Murkomen defended President William Ruto, stating that the Head of State’s recent remarks on abductions were misinterpreted and taken out of context.

He clarified that the President’s comments  were not meant to suggest that the government was responsible for the incidents.

When questioned on the slow pace of investigations into abductions compared to the swift arrests in the murder case of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were, Murkomen cited the straightforward nature of the latter case.

“Ong’ondo’s case was unfortunate, but it was resolved quickly because CCTV footage clearly showed who was with him in Parliament. That made it easier for authorities to apprehend the suspects,” he explained.

He added that although the MP’s case received significant media attention, police continue to investigate and prosecute other cases of abductions across the country.

The CS also echoed concerns raised earlier in the week by National Intelligence Service Director-General Noordin Haji, who said the country’s security sector is underfunded, a situation Murkomen warned could pose long-term risks.

“Despite all the challenges, the country’s security remains stable. I’m not overly concerned because of the daily sacrifices made by our security personnel,” Murkomen said.