Barbara Petusher

Kenya has a history of state-sponsored abductions, especially in the 1980s and 90s, under the authoritarian leader Daniel Arap Moi.

Kenya has a history of state-sponsored abductions, especially in the 1980s and 90s, under the authoritarian leader Daniel Arap Moi.

Gitobu Imenyara is a lawyer and democracy activist. He was arrested and beaten by Moi's regime. He has no doubt he's seeing the so-called Moi playbook in action now. But he says times have changed.

Gitobu Imenyara is a lawyer and democracy activist. He was arrested and beaten by Moi's regime. He has no doubt he's seeing the so-called Moi playbook in action now. But he says times have changed.

There is more accountability now. This judge has summoned the police chief to court three times, but he hasn't shown up yet. He's denied involvement, but no one else has been charged, let alone convicted. President Ruto has promised to stop the abductions, forced to respond to public outrage and to concern from Western allies.

There is more accountability now. This judge has summoned the police chief to court three times, but he hasn't shown up yet. He's denied involvement, but no one else has been charged, let alone convicted. President Ruto has promised to stop the abductions, forced to respond to public outrage and to concern from Western allies.

He can rally a crowd of supporters, but many Kenyans are waiting to see whether the country has really moved on from its dark past.

He can rally a crowd of supporters, but many Kenyans are waiting to see whether the country has really moved on from its dark past.

At the height of Kenya's Gen Z protests, police struck hard at demonstrators angered by tax hikes and corruption. Dozens were arrested, but many disappeared.

At the height of Kenya's Gen Z protests, police struck hard at demonstrators angered by tax hikes and corruption. Dozens were arrested, but many disappeared.

We are standing at the end of the alleyway down which your house is located, right where the road, where it joins the road.

We are standing at the end of the alleyway down which your house is located, right where the road, where it joins the road.

Jamil Longton's brother, Aslam, was one of the protest organizers. He'd been warned to stop. Both were pulled into a car outside their home, hooded and handcuffed. After that, there was no sign of them for 32 days. Aslam tells me he was regularly beaten, his tormentor demanding to know who was funding the protests. They were held in small dark cells, they said, in an unknown location.

Jamil Longton's brother, Aslam, was one of the protest organizers. He'd been warned to stop. Both were pulled into a car outside their home, hooded and handcuffed. After that, there was no sign of them for 32 days. Aslam tells me he was regularly beaten, his tormentor demanding to know who was funding the protests. They were held in small dark cells, they said, in an unknown location.

Who abducted you? Do you know who abducted you?

Who abducted you? Do you know who abducted you?

Others like them were captured on camera. This is a victim filmed with a phone, screaming as he tries to fight off abductors. More than 80 government critics have been reported missing so far, about a third still unaccounted for.

Others like them were captured on camera. This is a victim filmed with a phone, screaming as he tries to fight off abductors. More than 80 government critics have been reported missing so far, about a third still unaccounted for.

A damning indictment from this government minister, Justin Muturi. He says his son was picked up by the National Intelligence Service and only released after Mr. Muturi made a direct appeal to the president, William Ruto.

A damning indictment from this government minister, Justin Muturi. He says his son was picked up by the National Intelligence Service and only released after Mr. Muturi made a direct appeal to the president, William Ruto.