Interior CS Murkomen says gov't to intervene after Kenyan activists abducted in Uganda

The Law Society of Kenya, Amnesty International Kenya and Vocal Africa, in a joint letter to the Uganda High Commissioner in Kenya, Ambassador Eunice Kigenyi, have demanded the immediate release of the two. The organisations have further demanded legal representation and communication with their families.

While calling on the government of Kenya to ensure cross-border activism is not criminalized, they have called for a probe into the circumstances of their abduction and demanded that those responsible be held accountable.

Demands that were echoed by Free Kenya Movement, which Njagi chairs, and other activists who are now threatening to mobilise activists across the world to occupy Uganda embassies.

"We call for the release of our comrades, and they should cross the border while they're still healthy. We do not want excuses; we are going to give our governments 12 hours to release Bob and Nicholas Oyoo," Felix Wambua, national coordinator of Free Kenya Movement, noted. 

"The circumstances surrounding the abduction raise serious concerns about the safety of Kenyan citizens in Uganda and the potential collaboration between the Kenyan and Ugandan governments," Marshal Tito, an activist, said. 

"Political opponents must not be harassed, tortured or imprisoned for speaking out. We reject tyranny and we embrace the spirit of unity, non-violence and democratic reforms," Deus Kanyesigye, NUP spokesperson, Kenyan chapter, pointed out. 

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, speaking during the Jukwa la Usalama forum in Nairobi, confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working to resolve it.

"Like some of the Kenyans who went to the neighbouring country, I want to assure you the foreign affairs ministry is handling those issues and everybody will be accounted for. It is the duty of the government of Kenya to protect its citizens in any part of the world," he said. 

However, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who attended the burial of the late Minister Dalmas Otieno, gave the abduction a wide berth despite calls from leaders at the burial for the government to intervene.

"Kuna Wakenya wameshikwa huko Uganda tukimaliza hii burial tunaambia Mheshimiwa Mudavadi apigie Museveni simu atoe hao Wakenya ambao wameshikwa," Babu Owino, MP for Embakasi East, remarked. 

National Unity Platform presidential candidate Bobi Wine has, through his social media platforms, condemned the incident and confirmed the two could have been abducted as a result of associating with him. Njagi and Oyoo were on Tuesday part of Bobi Wine's campaign trail in Eastern Uganda.

The abduction of Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo in Kampala, Uganda, has yet again raised concerns over increased cases of human rights violations in the East African region, with authorities being blamed for remaining silent.