NAIROBI, Kenya – Outspoken Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah on Monday joined Protestors in Nairobi, demanding an end to ongoing abductions targeting government critics.
The protesters who occupied the Nairobi CBD from the early morning of December 30, 2024, demanded the release of seven documented missing persons.
However, the peaceful demonstrations took a sudden turn after anti-riot police moved to disperse the group accompanying Omtatah along Aga Khan Walk.
There were running battles in the area adjacent to Kenya Cinema, where the protesters had gathered to voice their concerns over several cases of abductions.
The group was chanting slogans, including Kenya’s national anthem while calling for a stop to abduction cases even as they demanded the release of abducted Kenyans.
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On several occasions, the heavily armed anti-riot police officers fired teargas canisters to disperse them, but they stayed put as they sat on the ground.
How the nationwide demonstrations were organised
Human rights organisations, lobby groups, youth, and survivors of this year’s abductions announced Monday’s nationwide demonstrations against ongoing kidnapping and enforced disappearances.
The demonstrators argued that the purpose of the protests was to put pressure on the government to stop the arbitrary arrests, free those who are thought to have been kidnapped, and fulfil the requests stated by Generation Z in June 2024.
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Kenyans are furious over the recent spike in kidnappings, which totaled over 80 for the year and over 10 in December alone.
Why Okiya Omtatah was earlier at the High Court
Before joining the protesters, Omtatah had filed a case at the High Court seeking to compel the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to produce in court seven youths abducted by individuals believed to be police officers.
“There are people who have been criticizing the government, and the only person who can pick them up is the government,” said Omtatah.
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Omtatah called for the resignation of the IG, DCI, DPP, and head of NIS if they don’t know what is going on regarding the abductions.
“Because this proves that they are incapable of performing their duties for which Kenyans have appointed and kept them in office,” Omtatah added.
Omtatah recently launched his presidential bid by forming an exploratory committee to facilitate his campaign for the 2027 presidential elections.
He plans to challenge President William Ruto.
