Several activists, among them Julius Kamau and Collins Otieno, were arrested in Nairobi’s Central Business District on Monday, September 21, as they protested the continued detention of Ugandan opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye.
The demonstrators were demanding Besigye’s release and seeking an explanation from the Kenyan government over how he was moved from Kenya to Uganda after reportedly disappearing in Nairobi in November 2024.
They also called for an independent probe into the circumstances surrounding Besigye’s transfer, including allegations that Kenyan security officers may have been involved.
The activists urged the President’s Office to respond to a petition they filed nearly two weeks ago, seeking answers on how Besigye allegedly left Kenyan territory and ended up in Uganda.
Addressing the demonstration, the protesters accused the Kenyan police of violating citizens’ rights while avoiding accountability. They also called for stronger protection of human rights across the East African Community.
“We have seen the Kenyan police act ill and get away with everything,” the activists said during the protest.
They maintained that their petition was aimed at establishing how Besigye was arrested in Kenya while under police custody before being taken to Uganda.
“We are part of the East African Community, and we expect Kenya and Uganda to maintain peace and respect the rights of citizens across the region,” one of the activists said.
Monday’s protest came amid continued scrutiny over Besigye’s disappearance from Nairobi in November 2024 and his subsequent appearance in Uganda, where he was initially charged before a military court.
The protesters want Kenyan authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding his transfer and determine whether members of the security forces participated in the operation.
The controversy has gained further attention following evidence presented during Besigye’s treason case in Uganda. A prosecution witness alleged that Kenyan police planted two pistols and suspected counterfeit currency in a Nairobi apartment before Besigye arrived.
The witness told the court that police had rented an apartment in Riverside, Nairobi, and prepared it as part of an intelligence-led operation.
The allegations were made during cross-examination before Justice Emmanuel Baguma at the High Court in Kampala.
