Activist Collins Otieno has been found alive after disappearing while attempting to help trace a fellow activist who had gone missing. The discovery comes as a small relief amid growing concerns about the safety and whereabouts of several protesters who were detained during demonstrations in Nairobi last week.
According to an update released by Vocal Africa, a civil society organisation, on Saturday, September 26, Otieno was discovered along Thika Road at approximately 4:30 in the morning.
A good Samaritan, a boda boda rider, came across the injured activist and immediately rushed him to Neema Uhai Hospital in the Kasarani area for medical attention.
The circumstances surrounding his discovery remain unclear, with many questions still unanswered about what happened to him during his time away.
Otieno's recovery comes just one day after fellow activist Boniface Mulinge Muteti was found alive in the Lukenya area of Machakos. Like Otieno, Muteti was also injured and disoriented when discovered.
Both activists had been among several people arrested during protests in Nairobi's Central Business District on Monday, September 21. The demonstrations were organised to push for the release of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who has been in detention in Uganda facing serious charges.
The story of these two activists is one that reveals the dangers faced by those who stand up for what they believe in. On Monday, September 21, Muteti reportedly disappeared after leaving fellow protesters in the CBD to print a petition.
For several days, his whereabouts remained unknown, leaving friends, family, and fellow activists deeply concerned about his safety and wellbeing. It was only on Friday morning that he was found and rushed to Sanel Hospital in Mlolongo for treatment. Now, with his recovery progressing, questions remain about what happened to him during those missing days.
Otieno's case follows a similar but somewhat different trajectory. According to Vocal Africa Chief Executive Officer Hussein Khalid, Otieno had gone to report Muteti's disappearance and to help establish where his colleague was before he himself reportedly went missing. While Muteti was found in Machakos, Otieno was discovered along Thika Road, which is closer to Nairobi.
The fact that both activists were found injured and disoriented has sparked serious concerns about police conduct and the treatment of detainees.
"Comrade Collins Otieno has been found. He was dumped along Thika Road. A good Samaritan boda boda guy found him around 4:30am and rushed him to hospital. Like comrade Muteti, Collins is disoriented, weak, and injured. He is presently at Neema Uhai Hospital around Kasarani receiving treatment," Khalid stated in the update.
The circumstances surrounding Otieno's disappearance and how he ended up along Thika Road have not been immediately explained. Vocal Africa's statement does not provide details about what happened to him between Monday and Saturday morning, leaving many unanswered questions about the events that led to his condition.
These disappearances and findings come against the backdrop of broader concerns about activists' safety in Kenya. The protests during which these activists were arrested were part of demonstrations demanding answers about the treatment and whereabouts of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye.
Besigye's case has drawn international attention and has raised concerns about cross-border extradition and the safety of activists in the East African region.
Besigye, a long-time critic of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, disappeared from Nairobi in November 2024 under circumstances that remain controversial. He subsequently appeared in Uganda, where he was arraigned and initially faced proceedings before a military court.
The circumstances surrounding his transfer from Kenya to Uganda have never been fully explained, and activists have been demanding that authorities clarify what happened and whether Kenyan police were involved in his transfer.
Besigye is currently facing charges of treason and misprision of treason before the High Court of Uganda. These serious charges have drawn condemnation from human rights organisations and activists who view his detention as politically motivated persecution.
The protests in Nairobi were therefore part of a wider movement calling for his release and demanding answers about his transfer from Kenya.
The findings of Muteti and Otieno have added fuel to the fire of these concerns. Activists are now questioning not only what happened to these two men but also what this says about the safety of people exercising their right to peaceful assembly and protest in Kenya.
There are calls for investigations into how these activists ended up in the condition they were found and who was responsible for their treatment.
Vocal Africa and other civil society organisations have been vocal in demanding that authorities provide a full explanation of the events. They want to know the circumstances surrounding the activists' detention, their treatment while in police custody, and how they ended up injured and disoriented in areas far from where they were arrested.
As both Otieno and Muteti recover from their ordeal, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks that activists take when they stand up for their beliefs. It also raises important questions about accountability, transparency, and the rule of law in Kenya's handling of protests and detainees.
Until these questions are answered, the cloud of uncertainty over what really happened during those missing days will continue to hang heavy over the activist community and those who care about human rights and justice in Kenya.
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