Since Mr Ruto assumed office in September 2022, a human rights organization has documented a more than twofold increase in human rights abuses.

As a result of punitive policing during protests, extrajudicial executions, deaths in custody, deliberate torture of children, interference with investigative authorities, unconstitutional interference by the National Police Service, and other human rights violations in the past year, the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) said on Thursday.

Since last October, the IMLU has documented 482 cases of torture and related violations, 128 extrajudicial murders, and three enforced disappearances. The majority of victims are young males, with 44 cases involving minors aged 17 or younger.

According to the organization, the president has failed to address police abuse and protect urban youth, based on the data.

It has been repeatedly promised by President Ruto that extrajudicial killings will be abolished.

In an interview with Kenyan media in January, he said, “There will be no extrajudicial killings under my administration. That is a chapter we must close, weld, bolt, and put behind us.”