Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah and a group of protesters were detained by police in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) and taken to Central Police Station for processing. The group had gathered on Monday to protest the rising cases of abductions across the country.
Omtatah and the protesters engaged in a standoff with police, during which they chained themselves to a heavy-duty metal chain to resist arrest. Despite their efforts, they were eventually apprehended and are now being held at Central Police Station, awaiting legal proceedings.
The demonstrations were part of a nationwide effort organized by human rights groups, lobby organizations, youth, and survivors of abductions. The groups announced the protests would proceed in all 47 counties as planned, demanding government action to release those allegedly abducted, stop arbitrary arrests, and address grievances raised by Generation Z in June.
The surge in abductions, with over 10 reported in December and more than 80 throughout the year, has sparked widespread concern in Kenya. Protesters called on the government to take urgent steps to end these incidents and enforce accountability.
Meanwhile, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mulele Ingonga has ordered an investigation into the abductions and disappearances. He directed the police to provide an update on their findings by January 1, 2025, expressing deep concern over the growing reports of such incidents.
The protests underscore increasing frustration among Kenyans over insecurity and the need for swift government intervention to address the crisis.
