A court in Nairobi has rejected a police request to detain Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah and 22 others for an additional 14 days.
In her ruling on Tuesday, December 31, Milimani Principal Magistrate Rose Ndombi stated that no valid reasons justified their continued detention.
Consequently, Ndombi ordered their immediate release, setting the bond at KSh 50,000 with surety or a cash bail of KSh 1,000 for each individual.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has offered to cover the bail for all 23 individuals.
However, the court directed that the accused’s mobile phones remain in police custody until the case is mentioned on January 21.
On Monday, December 30, Omtatah led a demonstration in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) against alleged abductions targeting government critics.
The protest, which attracted hundreds of participants, encountered a heavy police response, leading to the Senator’s arrest along with several other protesters.
Protesters had gathered at Aga Khan Walk, holding sit-ins and chanting slogans demanding the release of individuals reportedly abducted in recent months.
Some of the demonstrators, including Omtatah, chained themselves together as a show of solidarity and commitment to their cause.
Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, arresting those who remained steadfast.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has raised concerns about the rising number of alleged kidnappings of government critics, documenting 82 cases since anti-government protests began in June.
Rights groups accuse the police of orchestrating these abductions, a claim the police have denied, stating that investigations into the disappearances are ongoing.
In response to the alleged abductions, Omtatah filed a case in the High Court seeking to compel the government to release seven youths he claims were taken by the police.
