Siaya Governor James Orengo has raised an alarm over the disappearance of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye while in Nairobi.

In a statement on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, Orengo described the mysterious disappearance as a form of abduction.

While condemning the incident, Orengo raised serious questions to the government lamenting that cases of abductions have escalated in recent months.

Orengo maintained that Besigye’s disappearances raised concern over the ability of Kenya’s security agencies to protect its citizens and other nationals.

The Siaya Governor thus pleaded with the government to push for his release and decide whether they want to protect the constitution or violate it.

“Besigye did not come to Kenya as a fugitive. The most disturbing question in this saga is that the abduction was carried out by elements of Kenya’s security organs. And if that was not so then it would raise fundamental questions about the ability and authority of our security agencies,” his statement read in part.

“The Kenya Government must demand the immediate release of Mr Besigye until the circumstances of the abduction is established and determined because there is a framework in our laws that could have been invoked in compliance with the dictates of the rule of law and democratic principles,” he added.

“Kenya must decide whether we want to be a constitutional democracy governed by the primacy of the Bill of Rights and tenets of justice, or a tyranny,” the governor insisted.

Besigye’s wife’s statement

Besigye’s wife Winnie Byanyima had earlier on demanded the immediate release of her husband.

In a statement shared via her official X account on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, Byanyima confirmed that Besigye was indeed kidnapped last Saturday while he was in Nairobi for Karua’s book launch.

She further revealed that she had been reliably informed that Besigye is currently being detained at a military jail in Uganda.

Byanyima went ahead to state that Besigye’s lawyers and his family demanded to see him.

I request the govt of Uganda to release my husband Dr Kizza Besigye from where he is being held immediately.

He was kidnapped last Saturday while he was in Nairobi for Hon Martha Karua’s book launch. I am now reliably informed that he is in a military jail in Kampala.
We his…

— Winnie Byanyima (@Winnie_Byanyima) November 19, 2024

Kalonzo’s demands

Following Besigye’s wife’s statement, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka condemned the incident calling on Kenya’s relevant authorities to take action.

I am deeply concerned that Uganda's opposition leader, @kizzabesigye1, has gone missing while on a visit to Nairobi. This is a serious situation that requires immediate attention. I urge all relevant authorities and security agencies to move quickly and credibly to establish…

— Kalonzo Musyoka (@skmusyoka) November 20, 2024

Narc Kenya Party leader Martha Karua also condemned the incident,asking the security agencies to get at the bottom of it.