In a shocking development, Wanjiku Thiga, the National Youth Leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) and a prominent ally of former Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, was reportedly abducted in the Kamakis area along the Eastern Bypass on July 1, 2025.
The incident, confirmed by Thiga herself in a distress message posted on X at 1:22 p.m., stating, “I have been abducted at Kamakis,” has ignited widespread outrage and calls for her immediate release.
Thiga is currently being held at Ruiru Police Station, though authorities have provided no clear details on the charges against her, intensifying public concern over Kenya’s escalating wave of abductions targeting activists.
The abduction occurred in broad daylight at Kamakis, a busy stopover, raising questions about security in public spaces.
Kirinyaga County Woman Representative Njeri Maina revealed that officers at Ruiru Police Station claim ignorance of the reasons for Thiga’s detention, prompting accusations of state-sponsored abductions.
Social media platforms were flooded with hashtags like #EndAbductionsKE and #FreeWanjikuThiga, with netizens condemning the incident as part of a broader crackdown on dissent, especially against DCP members linked to Gachagua.
Thiga’s abduction follows a pattern of alleged abductions targeting DCP youth leaders, including Peter Kawanjiru, who was taken from his Limuru home by suspected Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers over “Wantam” remarks.
The DCP, a party increasingly vocal against President William Ruto’s administration, has faced mounting pressure amid Gen Z-led protests and Gachagua’s impeachment in October 2024.
Rights groups report over 70 abductions since last year, with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights noting 74 “forcibly disappeared” individuals, fueling fears of state-orchestrated suppression.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and activists are demanding transparency, with calls for Thiga’s immediate release or presentation in court.
The incident has drawn parallels to the case of blogger Albert Ojwang, whose death in police custody sparked nationwide protests.
The abduction shows Kenya’s ongoing struggle with police accountability and the right to protest under Article 37 of the Constitution, raising alarms about shrinking democratic space.
