Sylvester Onyango was arrested on August 13, 2015 during an operation at a Matatu stage. It was the last sighting of him. To date, on August 30th 2021, Sylvester’s whereabouts still remain unknown.
His case is one of many. From January 1, 2020 – July 31, 2021, Missing Voices documented 23 cases of enforced disappearances in Kenya. 5 of these victims were found dead with their bodies brutalised, while 18 of the victims still remain missing.
Majority of them were young males from marginalised communities who were arrested by plain-clothed police officers in unmarked cars.
Missing Voices demands the government to produce Sylvester and the many other victims who disappeared and were never found.
We also demand:
During arrests, officers must be in police uniform and with marked cars.
An official registration for people who have allegedly disappeared.
Implementation of a national law that criminalizes enforced disappearances
Mortuaries to have records of unknown bodies that are buried & post mortems to be conducted within 3 days.
Kenya to ratify the International Convention of Enforced Disappearances.
Reparations are given to families of victims and survivors of enforced disappearances.
