High-Level Diplomacy Ends 38-Day Ordeal

NAIROBI, KENYA – President William Ruto personally intervened to secure the release of two Kenyan human rights activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, who were freed on Friday, November 7, 2025, after being held incommunicado in Uganda for 38 days, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Minister of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi has confirmed. The high-stakes diplomatic effort underscores the complexities of regional relations within the East African Community (EAC) and tests Kenya's foreign policy on citizen protection.

In a statement issued on Saturday, November 8, 2025, Mr. Mudavadi detailed the government's extensive efforts, stating that “sustained diplomatic engagement” led to the breakthrough. “Following sustained diplomatic engagements between Kenya and Uganda, including a formal letter I personally addressed to Honorable General Odongo Jeje Abubakhar, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, both governments maintained open and constructive communication that has culminated in the safe release of our nationals,” Mudavadi announced.

The two activists, associated with the ‘Free Kenya Movement’, were handed over to Kenya’s High Commissioner in Uganda, Joash Maangi, late on Friday night. They were then escorted by Ugandan officials to the Busia border town, where they were formally received by Busia County Commissioner Chaunga Mwachaunga at approximately 11:00 PM EAT.

Abduction and Detention

Mr. Njagi and Mr. Oyoo were reported missing on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. Eyewitness accounts indicate they were abducted by armed men from a petrol station in Kira town, near Kampala. The activists had travelled to Uganda for what they described as business and social engagements, which included attending a manifesto launch for Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine out of solidarity. Their disappearance triggered immediate concern from family members and human rights organizations, who termed it an “enforced disappearance.”

Upon their return to Kenya, the activists alleged they were held at the Kasenyi Military Barracks by a special military command and subjected to torture and dehumanizing treatment during their captivity. “Thirty-eight days of abduction is not easy. We were tortured and dehumanised,” Mr. Njagi stated at a press conference at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Saturday, November 8, 2025. Ugandan authorities have not issued a formal statement on the allegations or the reasons for the detention.

Implications for Kenya and East Africa

The incident has cast a spotlight on the security of Kenyans within the EAC bloc and the delicate diplomatic balance Nairobi must maintain with its neighbours. Mr. Mudavadi emphasized that the safety of Kenyans abroad is a “non-negotiable priority” for the government. This case serves as a significant test for the Ruto administration's foreign policy, demonstrating a willingness to engage at the highest levels to resolve consular crises.

The successful negotiation contrasts with ongoing challenges, such as the case of two Kenyans still held in Tanzania following post-election violence there, which Mr. Mudavadi's ministry is also actively handling. The release of Njagi and Oyoo was lauded by civil society groups, including Amnesty International Kenya, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), and VOCAL Africa, which had campaigned tirelessly for their freedom. In a joint statement, the organizations praised the outcome as a “moment of relief and reflection on the power of collective advocacy.”

However, the affair also sparked political debate within Kenya. Claims emerged, highlighted during a heated session in the Kenyan Senate on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, that former President Uhuru Kenyatta may have played a role in the negotiations, a point that remains a subject of political contention. Regardless of the specific actors behind the scenes, the official government position attributes the successful outcome to the formal diplomatic channels activated under President Ruto's leadership. The incident reinforces the critical need for robust protections and clear protocols for citizens moving within the EAC, a region striving for deeper integration amidst persistent political and security challenges.