A fresh wave of protests could be on the horizon after the families of missing activists Davis Lichuma, Macmillan Kiari and Abdulaziz Molo, alias Zizo, issued the government with a 24-hour ultimatum demanding that the three be released.
Addressing the media on Sunday, June 28, the families warned that if their relatives were not produced within the stipulated period, they would mobilise nationwide demonstrations, escalating pressure on the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“Right now, we do not know where our kids are; we are very worried. We are demanding the immediate release of our kids or we initiate a countrywide mass action,” one of the parents said.
Lichuma's mother, Margaret Lichuma, revealed that her son visited her on June 24, a day before he went missing, and asked her to pray for him because he understood the dangers associated with his activism.
According to Margaret, she was informed the following day that Lichuma had been arrested before being advised to file a report at Pangani Police Station. However, his whereabouts have remained unknown ever since.
She further disclosed that Lichuma had previously suffered a stab wound to the abdomen, raising concerns about whether he was receiving proper medical care while allegedly in custody.
Meanwhile, another family highlighted the disappearance of Maximilian, popularly known as Maxy, who reportedly went missing on June 20 after CCTV footage allegedly showed a vehicle without number plates picking him up outside his home as he left for work.
Activist Boniface Mwangi accused the government of orchestrating Lichuma's disappearance through what he described as a rogue police unit. He claimed the activist was arrested during the Gen Z Mashujaa Day protests, transferred from a gazetted police station and has not been seen since.
“Davis Lichuma was arrested on Gen Z Mashujaa Day, removed from a gazetted police station by Ruto’s rogue police squad who drive Subarus, mask their faces, and shoot innocent Kenyans and has since disappeared,” stated Boniface Mwangi.
“We demand his immediate release. It is also very unfortunate that abductions and torture are back.”
Retired Chief Justice David Maraga, who attended the briefing, criticised the government for allegedly violating the Constitution and accused security agencies of operating outside the law.
He argued that despite government assertions that the economy is improving, many Kenyans continue to struggle, insisting that the youth-led demonstrations were lawful and protected under the Constitution.
“So they may say that the economy is doing well, but the ordinary is suffering. So when the young people came to the streets to protest, as is allowed in our constitution, they were abducted, they were killed,” stated Maraga.
The remarks came as the Interior Ministry confirmed that 355 people were arrested over the June 25 protests, highlighting the scale of the security operation mounted during the demonstrations. Nairobi recorded the highest number of arrests, with 161 suspects taken into custody.
