President William Ruto with his Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb at State House, Nairobi, on May 12, 2025.
President William Ruto has insisted that all persons who had disappeared or abducted during the Gen Z protests last year were returned home, even as he challenged the veracity of the figures issued by human rights organisations on the victims affected by the aforementioned illegalities.
The Head of State also denied any State-sanctioned enforced disappearances, saying he was clear when he was sworn in as the President of Kenya that his administration would not condone any form of extrajudicial killings or abductions.
This he said during the joint-press briefing with his Finnish counterpart, Alexander Stubb at State House on Monday, moments after Finland and Kenya signed agreements on diplomatic as well as peace and conflict resolution.
President William Ruto (right) his Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb (second right), Deputy President Kindiki Kithure (second left) and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja share a light moment at State House, Nairobi, on May 12, 2025.
Dr Ruto revealed that the subject of extrajudicial killings and abductions formed part of the discussions he had with President Stubb as well as civil societies and that his stand on the matter remained clear, and that accountability mechanisms are ongoing to ensure “that situation is attended to”.
His regime, President Ruto said, would not be like the “past where Kenyans disappeared and their bodies were found in all manners of place”.
“All the people who disappeared or who were abducted, all of them have been brought back to their families and to their homes. I have given clarity and firm instructions that nothing of that nature will happen again. It was my commitment when I became president that extrajudicial disappearances of Kenyans will not be part of what we are doing as a nation,” he said.
On his part, President Stubb, in what was the first state visit of Finland’s President to Kenya, emphasised the importance of governments to abide by the rule of law and safeguard human rights at whatever cost.
President William Ruto and his Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb during a joint press conference at State House Nairobi on Monday, May 12, 2025.
For the Finnish Head of State, the world as it is currently, needs more cooperation than ever, unfortunately, he noted, there is a disturbing diversification towards different types of transactional deals- something that does not help in improving the lives and welfare of people.
“We have to remember that democracy is something that we have to protect and also work at, at all times, and I think William and I share that goal, and we feel very strongly that working towards more liberal democratic societies where the rule of law is the basis and foundation. Where human rights are at the centre of whatever we do, and is the best way to push the dossier forward,” he said.
President Stubb also revealed that in addition to discussing a wide range of issues spanning the globe, region or bilateral, they also talked about NGOs and the importance of their role in the society.
For the Finnish leader, it is paradoxical that at a time when the world needs more cooperation than ever, diversification towards different types of transactional deals has become the order of the day.
“We need to work together on the subjects we discussed today. Climate change, forestry, development, global health, technology and economy…Finland is seeking close partners, and Kenya will certainly be one of them. I think that driving business interest cooperation is a good way forward, whether it be in green economy, digitisation and technology, infrastructure and health care of agriculture and agribusiness,” he said.
The discussion between Nairobi and Helsinki did not just end at talks but saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on diplomatic and political consultations as well as an agreement on cooperation in peace mediation and conflict resolution.
Finland's President Alexander Stubb inspects a guard of honour at State House, Nairobi, on Monday, May 12, 2025.
Just like Kenya has to deal with terrorism incursions along its 700-kilometre border with Somalia, Finland too has had to spend billions of Euros to train its military personnel and citizens to help secure its 1,300-kilometre border with Russia.
With this commonality, President Stubb said the two countries will mutually benefit from each other’s experience in protecting their national borders and protect their sovereignty and interests.
Whereas President Ruto has constantly denied any state involvement in the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, former Public Service Cabinet Secretary, Justin Muturi shook the nation when he revealed that his son, Leslie Muturi, was abducted by the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
He also added that it took President Ruto’s phone call to secure his son’s release from NIS’s hold.
Last week, a report by the Missing Voices Coalition dubbed “Brutal Policing” revealed that at least 104 people were killed extrajudicially by state security officers, with another 55 going missing through enforced disappearances across the country in 2024.
The months of June, July and August were the deadliest recording 38, 11 and 9 cases of extrajudicial killings, respectively with young people, aged between 18 and 34 being the most affected. In addition to the 104, the Coalition said that they established that there were 50 bullet-ridden bodies that remain unclaimed at Nairobi Funeral Home, which were not part of the 104.
In matters of enforced disappearances, a total of 55 cases were recorded in 2024, a figure that is more than five times that reported in 2023, which only registered 10 such cases.
