Belgut Member of Parliament Nelson Koech, who also chairs the Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations, has announced plans to summon Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi over Kizza Besigye’s disappearance saga while in Nairobi.

Speaking at a local TV station on Thursday, November 21, 2024, Koech noted that his committee is already planning to invite Musalia Mudavadi, who leads the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is currently acting as the Interior Cabinet Secretary, to explain in detail what transpired.

Amidst concern, speculation, and uproar from some Kenyans, Koech maintained that Mudavadi’s response would help cool down the tempers over the issue.

While committing to reach at the bottom of it all through his Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations, Koech assured Kenyans and other foreigners that the country is safe, arguing that was the reason why Besigye decided to visit in the first place.

“I want to say that this is a peaceful country, we host people and we are recognised for doing that is why even Besigye himself felt comfortable to come into the country,” Koech stated.

“My question for my committee would be and I made an undertaking that we are going to invite relevant ministries to shed light on exactly what happened. As the chair of Defence and Foreign Relations, I definitely invite Musalia Mudavadi and his team to come and explain to us exactly what happened.”

“I do not want us to be emotional over an issue that we can easily get the details and we address it,” he added.

Koech thus refuted claims that Kenya had become an abduction playground following Besigye’s disappearance while in the country.

Sing’Oei denies Kenya’s involvement

Koech’s remarks come after Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei denied Kenya’s involvement of the prominent Ugandan opposition figure while in the country.

In an interview with a local TV station on Wednesday night November 20, 2024, PS Sing’Oei also absolved Kenyan security forces from the disappearance saga.

Further, the Foreign Affairs PS detailed that the country was not informed of his travel itinerary in order to accord him security while in the country.

“The circumstances surrounding his travel are not known to us because no information was shared with us before he travelled. We do not know which hotel he was booked to or which apartment he stayed and therefore we were not in a position to necessarily provide him with certain additional security,” the PS said.

“But clearly, it seems from the reports I’ve followed on the news is that he (Besigye) was abducted. The reality though is that this is not the act of the Kenyan government or our security officials,” he added.

“It could have happened in our soil which is indeed a regrettable development but just to assure Kenya is a safe haven for many people and has been for many years and will be for years to come.”