Diplomatic Pressure Secures Release

Two Kenyan human rights activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, have been freed after being held incommunicado in Uganda for 38 days, a period marked by intense diplomatic negotiations and fervent campaigns by civil society organizations. The activists were handed over to Kenyan authorities at the Busia border crossing in the early hours of Saturday, 8th November 2025.

Confirming the release, Kenya's Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Korir Sing'oei, stated, “Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo are free and on Kenyan territory. Late last night, after lengthy engagements, the two were released to our High Commissioner in Uganda, Joash Maangi.” Busia County Commissioner Chaunga Mwachaunga received the duo at the border town around 2:00 AM EAT. Both activists were reported to be in stable health, though visibly weary from their ordeal.

Details of the Abduction

Njagi and Oyoo, both members of the Free Kenya Movement, disappeared on Wednesday, 1st October 2025. Eyewitness accounts state they were abducted “mafia-style” by armed men in both military and civilian attire from a petrol station in Kireka, a Kampala suburb. The activists were in Uganda to monitor the campaign activities of Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, ahead of the country's January 2026 general elections. Their abduction was swiftly condemned by Bobi Wine, who accused the Ugandan government of targeting them for associating with his political cause.

For weeks, their whereabouts remained unknown, sparking fears of an enforced disappearance—a tactic human rights groups say is increasingly used to silence dissent in the region. This was not the first such incident for Njagi, who was previously forcibly disappeared in Kenya for over a month in August 2024 following anti-government protests.

A Legal and Diplomatic Battle

The detention triggered a robust response from human rights organizations. A coalition including Amnesty International Kenya, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), and Voices of Community Activists and Leaders Africa (VOCAL Africa) relentlessly campaigned for their release. They issued joint statements, launched an international email petition targeting Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, and petitioned the Kenyan Parliament to intervene.

Legal efforts in Uganda initially hit a wall. Ugandan security agencies, including the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) and the national police, repeatedly denied holding the activists. On 22nd October 2025, Uganda's High Court dismissed a habeas corpus application filed on their behalf, with the judge ruling there was insufficient evidence that the state had them in custody and categorizing them as 'missing persons'. This ruling was met with outrage by activists who saw it as a judicial smokescreen.

Behind the scenes, the Kenyan government escalated diplomatic pressure. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who also heads the Foreign Affairs ministry, wrote to his Ugandan counterpart on 31st October 2025, expressing “profound concern” over the lack of a formal response from Kampala despite multiple inquiries. This sustained diplomatic engagement, coupled with public pressure, is credited with ultimately securing the activists' freedom. In a joint statement, civil society groups also acknowledged the role of former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta in the negotiations.

Implications for East African Civic Space

The abduction and subsequent release of Njagi and Oyoo have cast a harsh light on the growing trend of transnational repression in East Africa. Human rights defenders argue that the incident is part of a coordinated assault on civil society and political opposition across the region, where state security agencies appear to collaborate in silencing dissenting voices. This case serves as a critical test for the East African Community's commitments to upholding human rights and the rule of law, as enshrined in its founding treaty. While the safe return of Njagi and Oyoo is a victory for advocacy and diplomacy, questions remain about accountability for their arbitrary detention and the broader implications for the safety of activists working across borders in the region.