Human Rights Groups in Kenya say dozens of Kenyans participating in the youth-led protests over a now shelved tax-hike bill have been abducted in the past two weeks.

They blame the extrajudicial arrests on Kenya’s intelligence services. President William Ruto and Kenya’s interior minister have both denied the government’s involvement in the abductions.

Though Ruto withdrew the tax increases in a victory for the movement, the heavy-handed reaction to the protests – campaign groups have documented hundreds of arrests and at least 39 deaths – has raised fears of rights backsliding.

Amnesty, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and the Law Society of Kenya all put the number of abductions at more than 30, though they said most were later released.

The president of Law Society of Kenya, Faith Odhiambo, said the interrogations abduction victims have undergone during their ordeals have focused on how the protest movement is financed, how it is organised, and the identity of its leaders.

“It’s a very clear indication that the government is behind this,” she said.