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23 Kenyans including Busia senator Okiya Omtatah arrested during the Monday, December 30, 2024, anti-abductions protest in Nairobi have been released.

Milimani Court Principal Magistrate Rose Ndombi released the arrested people who had made good their threat to occupy Nairobi CBD.

“KNCHR’s Senior Counsel Victor Kamau, SC Martha Karua, the Law Society of Kenya, together with other advocates have just secured the release of the twenty-three (23) Kenyans who were arrested during yesterday’s peaceful protest against abductions and enforced disappearances in Nairobi CBD,” a statement from KNCHR stated.

The 23 were picked from different areas of Nairobi County’s Central Business District (CBD) by police officers who accused them of inciting members of the public to violence and causing public disturbance.

Omtatah and other activists had chained themselves together and sat on the ground when they were arrested by police.

Activist Morara Kebaso told journalists that his car was confiscated by police when he joined the ongoing anti-abduction protests in Nairobi.

Other arrests

In Eldoret, former presidential aspirant Reuben Kigame was arrested as he attempted to lead protests but was later released.

The people arrested in Nairobi were taken to different police stations, with Omtatah detained at the Gigiri police station.

Demonstrations were held to highlight cases of abductions and forced disappearances.

Omtatah vowed to return to the streets if those detained were not released.

Medical camps

The Law Society of Kenya, Medics for Kenya, Kenya Medical Association and Police Reforms Working Group said seven of the arrested people were women, adding that 21 people were arrested in Nairobi, 13 in Mombasa, and 16 in Eldoret.

The groups added that 18 protesters were injured during the demonstrations and two others were struck by teargas canisters.

In Nairobi, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the city centre, defying the police as they pushed for the release of the abductees.

Following the encounter with the police, some demonstrators were injured and were rushed to the hospital.

In Kitengela, Kajiado county, there was a heavy police presence, with a roadblock set up on the Nairobi-Namanga Road and uniformed police officers inspecting passengers aboard matatus. Most traders seemingly took caution, opting to keep their business closed until about noon.

Other towns rocked by the protests included Embu, Kenol in Murang’a, Nyeri and Machakos.