Omtatah raises alarm over missing medic

Okiya Omtatah, a renowned Kenyan human rights activist and senator, has voiced serious concerns over the mysterious disappearance of Edward Kipchumba Terer, a medical laboratory technologist from Sambalat in Kerio Valley.

According to information received by Omtatah, Terer went missing on June 2, 2025, in an incident that occurred in broad daylight while he was on duty.

“Two weeks later, he remains missing. No communication. No charges. No accountability,” Omtatah wrote on his X account on Saturday, June 14, 2025.

The vocal legislator emphasised that when a government fails to provide information on the whereabouts of its citizens, especially those suspected to have been seized under unclear circumstances, it erodes public trust and violates constitutional protections. He called on the relevant authorities to urgently disclose Terer’s location, ensure his safety, and uphold transparency.

Kenya’s record of missing persons

Kenya has witnessed several high-profile cases of enforced disappearances over the years, raising alarm among human rights organisations and the public. The Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) has documented numerous cases of missing persons over the years.

Notably, in 2016, lawyer Willie Kimani, his client Josephat Mwenda, and their taxi driver Joseph Muiruri were nowhere to be seen after a court appearance in Mavoko.

Their bodies were found days later in the Ol-Donyo Sabuk River. The case led to the conviction of several police officers and remains one of the country’s most chilling examples of state-linked disappearances.

Kerio Valley, where Terer hails from, has experienced prolonged insecurity, often involving armed banditry and cattle rustling. However, reports of suspected abductions are rare in the region, making Terer’s case even more perplexing.

Omtatah has urged fellow lawmakers and human rights groups to press for answers, insisting that silence from the authorities only deepens public anxiety.