Families of two Kenyan activists abducted in Kampala last week have now turned to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), calling for urgent intervention to establish their whereabouts and secure their release.
Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo have been missing for a week, with little progress despite diplomatic communication between Nairobi and Kampala and mounting pressure from relatives, civil society groups and the Kenyan government.
On Tuesday, relatives of the two, together with human rights defenders, visited the KNCHR offices in Nairobi to officially record statements and seek the commission’s support in pushing for answers from Ugandan authorities.
Oyoo’s family and activist Koffi Atinda, who narrowly escaped the abduction, gave their statements before expressing their growing frustration over the delayed response.
“They have promised to follow up with their counterparts in Uganda. We are hopeful that it will happen. We are still awaiting feedback from the Ministry. We met the PS last evening, but we feel that it is still dragging," said Nobert Ochieng, Oyoo’s brother.
Ochieng described how the disappearance has deeply shaken both families, especially the elderly parents of the two activists.
“My mum is not very young, 74 years old. Obviously, age comes with a bit of diseases, and she has not been very well. I have also received reports that Bob’s mum, who was in hospital before the incident, has gotten worse because of the incident," Oyoo lamented.
Another relative, Elsie Oyoo, appealed for their immediate return and due process.
“So that we can respect the rule of law, we would like for Nicholas and Bob to come back. Bring them back, and if there is a problem, take them to court.”
The families’ appeal comes at a time when diplomatic communication between Kenya and Uganda has yielded no clear answers. Human rights organisations have criticised what they term a slow response by authorities, especially after Ugandan police denied having the two in custody.
“It is high time that the two countries read from the same script, and we be told the truth and the way forward," stated lawyer John Maina.
The Uganda High Court has scheduled a hearing for October 14 in a habeas corpus case filed by lawyers and activists seeking to compel top security officials to produce Njagi and Oyoo.
Uganda Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke on Monday dismissed claims that the activists were being held by the police.
“Kenyan activists who came to join a rally in Uganda and are alleged to have disappeared — I am not briefed by police that they have them in our custody,” Rusoke said.
“At the moment, I don’t have any information to the effect that they are in police custody, nor do I have any information that they are accused by police. If I had, I would volunteer it here without any reservation.”
For now, the two families are left waiting as legal and diplomatic efforts continue ahead of the court hearing.