A Family's Agony: Seeking Justice for the Missing in Mlolongo
Paul Karani Muema's family pleads for justice after his alleged abduction in Mlolongo. As they seek closure, their story sheds light on Kenya's growing issue of enforced disappearances and the need for government action.
On December 16, a dark cloud descended over Mlolongo, Machakos County, as four young men—Paul Karani Muema, Steve Mbisi, Justus Mutumwa Musyimi, and Martin Mwau Zyuko—were reportedly abducted by masked men. Among them was Paul Karani, whose mother and sister have been tirelessly seeking justice, hoping to reunite with him despite the growing despair that comes with each passing day.
Their cries for help are heart-wrenching. In court, Paul’s mother stood as a symbol of many Kenyan families—families torn apart by forced disappearances, families who endure sleepless nights, unanswered questions, and a profound sense of helplessness.
“We have suffered so much under the regime of President William Ruto,” Paul’s sister lamented. Her voice, laden with pain, reflects the agony of a family that has spent over a month searching hospitals, mortuaries, and police stations, only to come up empty-handed. Her plea to the government to release their kin is not just a cry for help; it’s a desperate demand for accountability.
In her tearful statement, she said, “We want to know whether they are still alive or they were murdered. If they were killed, let us be given their bodies and bury them; then we get closure instead of spending time looking for someone whom we do not know, whether he is alive or dead.”
Such words pierce through the collective conscience of any society. No family should be left in limbo, torn between hope and despair. The sister’s call for closure is a cry that resonates with countless Kenyans who have suffered similar tragedies.
The family’s pain deepens as they witness other abductees being released and reunited with their loved ones. While these reunions bring glimmers of hope, they also highlight the glaring inequalities in how justice is served. Why are some families granted answers while others remain in the dark?
This case sheds light on a broader issue plaguing Kenya: the alarming rise in enforced disappearances. These incidents undermine the very principles of democracy, justice, and human rights. Families are left traumatized, communities are gripped by fear, and the nation is left questioning the integrity of its systems.
As an SRHR advocate and writer at aKtive Citizen, I find it imperative to emphasize that justice delayed is justice denied. The pain of Paul Karani’s family is not just their burden—it is a collective failure of a system meant to protect its citizens.
President William Ruto’s government must prioritize addressing such disappearances. Transparency, swift investigations, and accountability are crucial to restoring public trust. Families like Paul’s deserve to know the truth, whether it brings closure or hope.
To Paul’s mother, sister, and all those who continue to search for their loved ones, we stand in solidarity with you. Your pain is our pain, and your fight for justice is a fight we must all share.
It is time for us, as Kenyans, to demand answers, to demand justice, and to demand an end to these forced disappearances. Every citizen deserves the right to life, freedom, and security. Let us not rest until every family is reunited or given the closure they so desperately need.
The search for Paul Karani continues, but it is also a search for truth, justice, and humanity. Let us raise our voices louder until they are heard by those in power.
Bosanios Limpala
Blogger, aKtive Citizen
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