Questions Linger as Missing Kenyan Activists Return Home

For 39 long days, the families of Nicholas Oyoo and Bob Njagi clung to hope. Their sons — both Kenyan activists known for their bold advocacy — had vanished in Uganda under circumstances as murky as they were alarming.

This week, relief finally washed over their relatives, friends, and fellow campaigners as news broke that the two had been released — the result, human rights groups say, of rare high-level cooperation between Nairobi and Kampala, and the quiet involvement of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Oyoo and Njagi were last seen in Kampala more than a month ago before reportedly being abducted by unknown individuals. Their disappearance sparked a groundswell of concern across Kenya’s human rights community, prompting protests, diplomatic appeals, and a sustained online campaign demanding answers.

On Tuesday, VOCAL Africa, the Law Society of Kenya, and Amnesty International Kenya jointly announced their release, describing the moment as both emotional and historic.

“We extend our appreciation to the Kenyan and Ugandan governments at the highest level and the immediate former President of Kenya for their cooperation towards their safe return,” the organisations said in a statement.

Their gratitude extended widely — to the activists’ families, members of the Free Kenya Movement, human rights defenders, journalists, diplomats, and ordinary citizens who refused to let the disappearance fade from public memory.

Behind the scenes, the pressure was intense. Civil society groups mounted a coordinated campaign, while diplomatic channels between the two countries quietly opened. The involvement of former President Kenyatta, though not detailed, is being hailed as pivotal in breaking a stalemate many feared would turn tragic.

VOCAL Africa said preparations were underway to transport the activists back to Nairobi, where family members and supporters await their arrival with a mix of joy and unanswered questions.

Even as relief settles in, the episode has stirred deeper concerns about cross-border safety, state accountability, and the rising risks faced by vocal activists in the region.

Human rights organisations called the release a “turning point” and urged East African governments to do more than respond to crises — they should prevent them.

“Let this moment signal an important shift towards upholding the human rights of East Africans anywhere in the East African Community,” the groups added.

Yet, much remains unclear. Who abducted Oyoo and Njagi? Why were they held? And why did it take the involvement of top political figures for them to return home?

For now, their release marks the end of a painful chapter — and the beginning of a renewed call for stronger protections for those who dare to speak up across East Africa.