In times of political decay and social discontent, repression does not retreat; it sharpens its
fangs. Across the country, we are witnessing a sharp increase in abductions, illegal
detentions, and enforced disappearances, especially of activists, youth organisers, and voices
of dissent. The brutality is not new; but its escalation is significant. And in these moments,
when the people are hunted by the state, the choice is clear: organise or perish. This article is
not just a warning. It is a lifeline. It is a call to consciousness and a manual for survival.
The State’s Dirty War: Why Abductions Happen
Abductions in Kenya are not random. They are not “isolated” acts by “rogue elements.” They
are a systematic weapon of class warfare; used by a state built to defend a small elite of
landlords, compradors, and foreign capitalists. When people organise; especially outside the
narrow confines of NGO-funded “civic space”; they are marked as threats to this order.
The rise of political abductions signals a regime in crisis. Unable to address the cries of the
hungry, the unemployed, and the landless, it turns to terror. It strikes in the night, with plain-
clothed officers and unmarked vehicles. It bypasses warrants, courtrooms, and due process.
Because where the poor build independent power; through food collectives, student unions,
community defence, revolutionary education; abductions are deployed to decapitate the
leadership.
Let us be clear. These kidnappings serve many purposes:
- To disrupt revolutionary organisation and dual power efforts.
- To instil fear in the masses through psychological warfare.
- To punish dissent that cannot be controlled by law.
- To break morale and sow disunity within movements.
- To extract intelligence and map the resistance.
- To serve the interests of imperialist intelligence networks like AFRICOM, Mossad,
and MI6.
A state that cannot persuade must abduct. A system that cannot govern justly must terrorise.
It is a sign of weakness, not strength. But only the organised can survive it.
Before the Abduction: Be Rooted, Be Ready
If you are politically active in Kenya today, especially outside elite-sanctioned NGOs, you
are already a target. Therefore, preparation must be constant, not reactive.
Anchor Yourself in a Revolutionary Organisation: No one survives alone. The loner is
vulnerable. The rootless activist will vanish and no one will know where to look. To join a
disciplined organisation is to surround yourself with eyes that watch, ears that hear, and arms
that defend. It is the first layer of protection.
Develop a Security Culture: Stop loose talk. Do not discuss plans, comrades, or movement
details in casual conversation or on unsecured platforms. Encrypt communication. Work on a
need-to-know basis. Carry only essential identification. Learn the names of trusted lawyers
and memorise their contacts. The state exploits carelessness more than courage.
Study the Tactics of Repression: Learn the vehicles used in abductions. Watch how plain-
clothed units operate. Know which police stations are used as torture hubs. The more you
understand the enemy’s methods, the harder you are to disappear.
Strengthen Mental Discipline: Abductions are designed to disorient and break you. Rehearse
internally: “I want my lawyer. I have nothing to say.” Prepare to endure silence. To be
captured with clarity is better than to be free in confusion.
During the Abduction: Resist Loudly, Observe Everything
If you are being abducted; especially by unidentified individuals or in an unmarked vehicle;
understand this: it may not be a lawful arrest. It may be a death sentence. You must resist
immediately, loudly, and intelligently.
Raise Alarm Publicly: Scream. Yell your name, your association, and your location. Repeat
it. Create commotion. The goal is to make the act visible; to force public witnesses and
possible intervention. Abductors fear visibility. Expose them.
Resist Physically If You Can: Bite, kick, run; turn every second into survival. But if you are
subdued, regain mental clarity. Begin observing everything: vehicle model and number plate,
direction of travel, words used, clothing, body features. Memorise them all.
Say Nothing, Sign Nothing: Once in custody, maintain total silence. Never admit, confess,
or cooperate. Anything you say can harm others. The enemy’s goal is to break your
discipline. Yours is to protect the movement.
Do Not Lead the Enemy to Others: Under no circumstance should you call comrades,
confirm identities, or reveal hideouts. Every word you say may become a weapon used
against your own.
If You Are Arrested by Uniformed Police: Know Your Rights, Use Them
Abductions often masquerade as arrests. But the difference is thin. If uniformed officers
confront you:
- Ask if you are under arrest. Demand a warrant.
- State clearly: “I will not speak without my lawyer.”
- Refuse to sign any document.
- Do not reveal organisational roles, comrades’ names, or political links.
- Dispose of or deny any sensitive materials on your person.
Silence is not cowardice. It is discipline. And in the hands of the conscious, silence is a
revolutionary act.
After Abduction: Recover, Report, and Resist
If you survive and are released, the struggle is not over. The next steps are critical; not just
for your safety, but for the protection of all comrades.
Report Immediately to Your Organisation: Write a full report: what happened, who was
involved, what was said, and what may have been compromised. This is not for blame; it is
for correction and collective defence.
Undergo a Security Debrief: Even the strongest comrades can be shaken. A proper debrief
allows comrades to assess risks, change protocols, and learn from experience. One comrade’s
experience can save many.
Return to the Struggle: There is no retirement in revolution. The wounds of detention heal in
the trenches of mass work. Like Dedan Kimathi writing from Kamiti, or Mandela studying on
Robben Island, the true revolutionary never ceases to build.
For Those Left Outside: Defend the Imprisoned
If your comrade has been abducted or arrested, your task is not mourning; it is mobilisation.
- Organise public pressure. Demand their release through demonstrations, media, and
petitions. - Mobilise legal support. Ensure lawyers, court monitors, and human rights defenders
are involved. - Provide moral and material support. Visit regularly. Send food, medicine, and
revolutionary literature. - Transform fear into fire. Let each abduction sharpen our clarity. Let it birth new
fighters.
A Word to the Wise: Organise or Be Picked Off
To be alone in times of state terror is to walk blindfolded into the lion’s den. Without the
backing of comrades, organisations, and revolutionary discipline; you are an easy target. This
is the era of coordinated repression. It requires coordinated resistance.
A revolutionary party like the Communist Party Marxist Kenya (CPMK) provides not just
political clarity, but material protection: legal networks, secure communications, security
culture, and collective response. When you are abducted and have a party behind you, the
entire state feels pressure. When you disappear and no one knows your name, the state sleeps
easy. Repression will escalate. But so must our organisation.
Final Word: Turn Pain into Power
Abductions will not stop the revolution. They will fuel it. Every comrade lost in the night
becomes a spark in the hearts of thousands. Every torture cell becomes a school of resistance.
Every silence held under duress becomes a shield for the next generation.
We say to the oppressor: You may capture our bodies, but you will never conquer our spirit.
And we say to the people: Do not wait to be next. Organise. Join a revolutionary formation.
Build security culture. Spread political education. Abductions are not just about safety; they
are about strategy. Survival is a political act.
5
To organise is to protect.
To resist is to live.
To build the people’s power is the only road to liberation.
