Activist Collins Otieno Found Along Thika Road After Disappearance

Human rights activist Collins Otieno has been found along Thika Road after reportedly going missing, with fellow activists confirming that he was discovered in the early hours of Saturday.

Otieno was reportedly found at around 4:30 a.m. by a boda boda rider who came across him along the busy highway. The rider is said to have taken the activist to Neema Uhai Hospital in Kasarani, where he was receiving medical attention.

Human rights defender Hussein Khalid confirmed Otieno’s whereabouts, saying the activist was found in a weak and disoriented state.

Khalid, the chief executive officer of Vocal Africa, said Otieno had sustained injuries and required medical care. However, details surrounding the circumstances that led to Otieno being found along the road remained unclear.

The development came amid growing concern over the safety of activists following a series of reported disappearances involving members of Kenya’s civil society community.

Otieno had reportedly been involved in efforts to establish the whereabouts of fellow activist Boniface Mulinge Muteti, who had earlier been reported missing. Muteti was later found in the Lukenya area of Machakos County and taken to hospital after reportedly being found injured and disoriented.

The two activists had participated in recent demonstrations in Nairobi linked to calls for the release of Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye.

Otieno was among activists arrested in Nairobi’s Central Business District during protests on September 21. The demonstrations focused on concerns surrounding Besigye’s detention and calls for authorities to respect the rights of protesters and political activists.

His disappearance subsequently raised concern among fellow activists, with rights groups calling for his whereabouts to be established.

The circumstances surrounding Otieno’s disappearance and his eventual discovery along Thika Road have yet to be fully established. No independent account has so far provided a complete explanation of what happened between the time he was last seen and when he was found.

Activists and human rights organisations are expected to seek further clarification as Otieno recovers in hospital. They have also called for investigations into reported cases of missing activists, arguing that the circumstances surrounding such incidents should be established through proper investigations.

For now, Otieno remains under medical care at Neema Uhai Hospital in Kasarani. His recovery and any account he may provide about the events preceding his discovery could provide further information about what happened.

The latest development has also renewed attention on the safety of human rights defenders and activists participating in demonstrations in Kenya, particularly amid heightened political and civic activity.

Authorities have yet to publicly provide a detailed account of the circumstances surrounding Otieno’s disappearance and subsequent discovery. Further information is expected as investigations, if undertaken, progress.