- Omari claims that the nine were on July 19, 2023 arrested at various places within Nairobi County and whisked to various destinations.
Nine Azimio leaders have moved to court seeking to be released over their unlawful abduction and detention at unknown places by police officers.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Raila Odinga's spokesperson Dennis Onyango, Ken Onyango, Teddy Mwambire, Wilfred Odallo, Redson Onyango, Eric Otieno, Anthony Otysula and Maurice Ogeta say they are ardent members of the Azimio One Kenya Alliance.
In an application filed under urgency by lawyer Danstan Omari, he states that the applicants are representatives of the people either at the National Assembly or the County Assembly with the exception of Maurice Ogeta who is a private bodyguard to Azimio leader Raila and Eric Otieno, Redson Onyango and Anthony Otysula who are employees of the Nairobi County Assembly.
Omari claims that the nine were on July 19, 2023, arrested at various places within Nairobi County.
He claims they were whisked to various destinations that are unknown to their family members, friends and acquaintances within the ranks of the official opposition of the government in Kenya.
"Before the unconstitutional, illegal and surreptitious abduction and forceful detention of the Applicants herein, they had every intention of participating in the three-day country-wide demonstrations beginning July 19 that have been called by Raila Odinga," Omari said.
"The protests were called to pressurize the government of the day to lower the cost of living especially following the passing of the Finance Act,2023 despite its operation being stayed by the Constitutional Court, its effects continue to pain Kenyans."
Omari says all the nine were last seen with police officers some of whom not only wore their official uniforms but also drove GK vehicles where they were bungled up and whisked to unknown and/or undisclosed locations.
He said the Court is enjoined by the law to order their release or immediate presentation before the court if at all any offence cognizable in law has been committed by the Applicants.
"Unless this Honourable Court certifies this matter as urgent and orders the production of the Applicants before this court, the rights of the Applicants which include the right to peacefully demonstrate, to freedom of movement and to associate freely with others to exercise their political rights will continue to be violated," court documents read.
He invited the court to protect the constitutional rights and fundamental freedoms of the Applicants.