DAP Kenya party leader Eugene Wamalwa and his Wiper counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka on Tuesday visited Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah at Milimani Court in Nairobi before his arraignment.
Wamalwa posted a short video of him with Kalonzo demonstrating solidarity with Omtatah.
The three displayed the solidarity gesture, as they held up two fingers in the form of the letter V.
“With my brothers Okiya Omtatah and Kalonzo Musyoka at Milimani Court where he is being held with other protestors before arraignment,” Wamalwa posted on his social media pages.
Omtatah was arrested for participating in Monday’s protests against the rising cases of abductions and enforced disappearances of government critics.
Omtatah was detained alongside other protesters who were demonstrating along Aga Khan Walk in Nairobi’s city centre.
The group, which included activists and concerned citizens, had chained themselves together, sitting on the ground in a symbolic act of resistance.
The recent surge in abductions—over 10 reported in December
alone and more than 80 cases this year, according to the Kenya National
Commission on Human Rights has sparked nationwide outrage.
Despite government denials, human rights groups, victims,
and youth activists called on Kenyans to join the protests in all 47 counties.
Demonstrators demanded the immediate release of individuals allegedly abducted by security agents and an end to unlawful arrests.
Among the missing in recent days are activists Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti Njeru, and Bernard Kavuli.
Omtatah on Monday filed a case at the High Court seeking to compel the Inspector General of Police, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to produce in court people abducted by individuals believed to be police officers.
He would later join protesters in the Nairobi CBD.
While speaking to members of the press after filing the case, Omtatah also accused the government of using intimidation to suppress its citizens when called out for their inadequacies.
“The government is abducting its people in an attempt to intimidate them. For them to try and pretend that they do not know what is happening is unacceptable,” Omtatah stated.
