Monday is Monday: Omtatah arrested during the anti-abduction protests

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, who has declared interest in running for top seat in the country, was on Monday arrested alongside other demonstrators in Nairobi during the anti-abduction protests.

Mr Omtatah had joined other demonstrators in Nairobi's CBD to press the government to release tens of youths who have been abducted without trace by persons believed to be police officers.

Mr Omtatah was briefly held at the Central Police Station with police yet to state whether he will be charged or not for taking part in what they termed “illegal demonstrations”.

He was later transferred to Gigiri Police Station.

The arrest of the politician came hot on the heels of a case he filed at the High Court seeking orders to force the Inspector General of Police (IG) Douglas Kanja and Director Criminal Investigations (DCI) Amin Mohamed to produce seven(7) abductees whether dead or alive.

In the application filed under a certificate of urgency through lawyers Dr Philip Langat and Felix Kiprono, Mr Omtatah is urging the court to order for the immediate release of seven(7) persons allegedly abducted by persons believed to be police officers.

In the event they are not released to their families, the senator is praying the court to direct the security agencies to file cases against the seven(7) abductees.

Mr Omtatah says the rights of the abductees have been violated as they have been held incommunicado in a place only known by their captors.

Mr Omtatah is impressing upon the court to order the security agencies to produce in court or release Gideon Kibet, Ronny Kiplagat, Steve Kavingo Mbisi, Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, Bernard Kavuli, and Kelvin Muthoni forthwith.

He is also asking the court to compel the abductees to be produced dead or alive.

In the case, the lawmaker has named the IG, the DCI, and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga as the respondents.

“That an order of Habeas Corpus do issue directing the respondents to produce the bodies of Gideon Kibet, Ronny Kiplagat, Steve Kavingo Mbisi, Billy Mwangi,Peter Muteti, Bernard Kavuli and Kelvin Muthoni at the Kibera High Court on a date to be given together with the original warrant or order of detention,” Mr Omtatah prays the court to order.

Further the Senator is rooting for the unconditional release of the abductees on bond or cash bail.

In the supporting affidavit, Mr Omtatah claims Gideon Kibet went missing on the Christmas Day (December 25,2024) in Kikuyu within Kiambu County.

“And on various dates within December 2024, Ronny Kiplagat, Steve Kavingo Mbisi, Billy Mwangi,Peter Muteti, Bernard Kavuli and Kelvin Muthoni  also went missing,” states the Senator in the sworn affidavit.

The senator says he was approached by the families of the seven(7) missing persons to assist them since their efforts to trace their beloved ones have been unsuccessful.

“That I have received information from the families of the seven(7) that they have visited a number of morgues (mortuaries) in Nairobi and Kiambu and they have not been able to see their bodies,” adds Mr Omtatah

The plaintiff says on December 25, 2024, he filed a report of the missing persons at Upper Hill Police Station and was issued with OB No 25/25/09/2024.

Mr Omtatah states that the mobile phone numbers of the seven(7) subjects are with the police as efforts to call them have been futile as their cell phones have been switched off.

"In the alternative, the respondents should explain why the said should not be released on bond or bail," Mr Omtatah said in his affidavits.

In the recent past, the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that officers from a special police unit are responsible for the abduction without trace of the youthful opposers of the administration of President William Ruto.

Mr Gachagua has claimed in media addresses that the abducted are being held in a city building on 21st floor.

He said he is avoiding to mention the building for security purposes of the innocent people there. He said he has given the government time to stop “its brutality against citizens.”