Nairobi: Two Kenyan activists who went missing in Uganda 38 days ago have been flown to Nairobi for medical attention and reunion with their families. Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo were received Saturday morning at the border shortly after 2am in a handover involving the Ugandan military, Kenyan officials, and the Kenyan Ambassador to Uganda.
According to Kenya News Agency, they were later transported to Kisumu International Airport, where they boarded a mid-morning flight to Nairobi. At the airport, the two were visibly weak and unable to speak at length. Human rights officials accompanying them said they appeared traumatised and needed urgent medical and psychological support. Kisumu-based human rights defender Karen Omanga, who received them at the border on behalf of the family, stated, “They are traumatised; they have not been speaking. Kindly give us time.” She added that they were informed the previous night about the release and the activists were escorted to the border in a convoy before being handed over by the Busia County Commissioner.
The activists disappeared in Uganda after travelling to show solidarity with detained opposition blogger and critic Fred Lumbuye, also known as Besenji. For weeks, Ugandan authorities denied holding them, prompting pressure from civil society and international rights groups. Human rights organisations claim the two were held incommunicado and in harsh conditions. Boniface Akach of the Kisumu Peace and Justice Centre noted that their first request upon arriving in Kisumu was to take a shower, indicating they were detained under difficult conditions. He welcomed the release but insisted that both the Kenyan and Ugandan governments must account for the 38 days of disappearance.
“We are happy to find them alive. But where have they been all this time? If they committed an offence, why were they not taken to court? Why hold them, traumatise the families and then dump them at the border?” Akach queried. He also criticized the Kenyan government’s delayed response, suggesting that earlier intervention might have expedited their release.
Nicholas Oyoo briefly addressed the press, expressing gratitude to Kenyans for demanding their release and acknowledging the media’s role in their return. However, he refrained from providing further details. Bob Njagi echoed similar sentiments, thanking Kenyans and human rights activists while indicating a need for treatment before sharing more information.
Betty Oketo, Kenya Human Rights Commission Board Vice Chairperson, asserted that the return of the activists validates civil society concerns, which were previously dismissed by officials. She emphasized the crucial role of civil society in supporting families and maintaining pressure, highlighting the dangerous environment for human rights work in East Africa. Oketo stressed the importance of continued support for activists disappearing across borders, referencing past incidents in Kenya and Tanzania.
