The release of Kenyan activists Nicholas Oyoo and Bob Njagi after 38 days of enforced disappearance has brought relief and renewed hope among human rights defenders across the region.
Their freedom came late Thursday night in Busia, ending weeks of uncertainty and tension surrounding their mysterious disappearance in Uganda.
Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo expressed deep gratitude for their release, calling it a victory for justice and human rights. She said the two had been missing for more than a month and their return home marked an important moment for human rights advocates.
Odhiambo thanked all those who worked tirelessly to secure their freedom, including the activists’ families, the Free Kenya Movement, journalists, human rights defenders, and the ministries of foreign affairs in both Kenya and Uganda.
She emphasized that this unity showed the strength of regional collaboration in protecting citizens’ rights.
Odhiambo added that the release of Oyoo and Njagi should serve as a turning point for the East African Community, encouraging governments to uphold the human rights of all citizens regardless of where they are within the region.
She also revealed that the Law Society, together with partner organisations VOCAL Africa and Amnesty Kenya, is facilitating the safe transfer of the two activists to Nairobi, where their families, friends, and supporters eagerly await their arrival.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei confirmed that the two activists were handed over to Kenyan authorities at the Busia border. He said the process followed long discussions with Ugandan officials and that the Kenyan High Commissioner in Uganda, Joash Maangi, personally received them.
Sing’Oei expressed gratitude to everyone who played a role in securing the activists’ release and assured that a detailed account of the events leading to their freedom would be shared later.
The two had gone missing on October 1 after being last seen in Uganda. Reports indicated they had travelled there with two Ugandan colleagues and later joined opposition leader Bobi Wine’s campaign events in Buyende and Kamuli districts. Witnesses recalled that the pair stopped at a petrol station for car repairs before being seized by armed men in a grey van.
From that moment, their phones went silent, and their whereabouts remained unknown.
Human rights organisations, including VOCAL Africa, had condemned their disappearance and called for immediate action. They described the incident as a clear violation of fundamental rights and demanded that authorities in Uganda and Kenya take responsibility.
Now that Oyoo and Njagi have regained their freedom, attention shifts to accountability and justice for what they endured. Their release stands as a reminder that the fight for human rights in East Africa is far from over but also a sign that collective voices can indeed bring change.
