Mutunga and Boniface Mwangi at DCI headquarters

Retired Chief Justice Willy Mutunga is leading a group of activists opposed to the Finance Bill, 2024, in presenting a petition at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters on Kiambu Road.

Joining Mutunga are other notable activists including Boniface Mwangi, Hussein Khalid, the Executive Director of Haki Africa, and Hanifa Adan.

"Abductions are unconstitutional," Mutunga declared upon arrival at Mazingira House, the DCI headquarters.

Security has been heightened around Mazingira House, with police keeping people at a distance of about 200 meters from the main gate.

According to Mwangi, the group is at the DCI headquarters to present a petition regarding alleged abductions targeting peaceful protesters.

"Two Subarus attempted to kidnap us on Friday outside City Mortuary, but we managed to escape. We are here to tell the DCI to either arrest us or allow us to protest peacefully," Mwangi said.

Mwangi also claimed that the infamous abductions, which President William Ruto had vowed to end, have resurfaced.

"This is a return to the Yala River era. We are witnessing numerous abductions despite President Ruto's promise to end such practices," Mwangi stated. "The president said 'no more River Yala,' but this is River Yala all over again."

Khalid expressed their readiness to defend the rights of Kenyans against over-taxation, even at the cost of their lives.

"We don't fear arrest, we don't fear death. We are ready to die," he asserted.

Police allowed Mutunga, Mwangi, and Khalid to enter the DCI headquarters accompanied by their lawyers, while protesters were kept at a distance from the main gate.

In recent days, reports have surfaced of individuals being arrested and held incommunicado amid fears of a wave of abductions. Some of those allegedly abducted by security officers have been released through their lawyers' intervention, while others are reportedly still being held.