Uhuru praised for efforts in repatriating activists Bob Njagi, Nicholas Oyoo

VOCAL Africa, together with the Law Society of Kenya and Amnesty International Kenya, has hailed former president Uhuru Kenyatta for the role he played in the release of Kenyan activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo after 38 days of enforced disappearance in Uganda.

In a joint statement shared on social media on Saturday, November 8, 2025, the organisations also expressed deep appreciation to the Kenyan and Ugandan governments for their cooperation at the highest levels.

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“@VOCALAfrica_@LawSocietyofKe @AmnestyKenya welcome the release of Nicholas Oyoo and Bob Njagi after 39 days of their enforced disappearance,” the statement read in part.

The statement also acknowledged the efforts of the families of Njagi and Oyoo, colleagues from the Free Kenya Movement, human rights defenders, journalists, diplomats, and active citizens who campaigned tirelessly for the activists’ release.

“We extend our appreciation to the Kenyan and Ugandan governments at the highest level and the immediate former President of Kenya for their cooperation towards their safe return. We thank their families, Free Kenya movement colleagues, human rights defenders, journalists, diplomats and active citizens who have tirelessly campaigned for this moment,” the statement added.

The organisations described the release as a significant milestone, noting that it signals an important shift towards upholding the human rights of East Africans anywhere within the East African Community.

According to the statement, arrangements are being made to transfer Njagi and Oyoo to Nairobi, and further details of their arrival will be provided to enable family, friends, and colleagues to meet them.

“Let this moment signal an important shift towards upholding the human rights of East Africans anywhere in East African Community. We are facilitating their transfer to Nairobi and will give details of their arrival for family, friends and comrades to meet them,” the organisations said.

Memories of torture

Following his release, Bob Njagi took time to address the press, narrating the harrowing conditions he and fellow activist Nicholas Oyoo endured during their 38-day detention.

Njagi, who was freed on Saturday, November 8, 2025, after being held since October 1, said they were tortured, deprived of food, and kept under constant surveillance by Uganda’s Special Forces Command.

Njagi said they were still in physical pain and required medical attention before they could reveal full details of their ordeal.

“We were being detained under the watch of the Special Forces Command. We are going to release more details to you about what happened in detention in a short while because we need medical attention first. We have not been eating for 14 days. Myself, I have been fasting and it has been very difficult,” Njagi said.

The activist expressed gratitude to Kenyans and regional rights groups for their relentless advocacy and solidarity throughout their disappearance, saying it was their collective pressure that made their eventual release possible.

“Thank you very much for your solidarity. Yes, we were tortured, but we will give more details about the same soon. The food we were being given was not really good at all. We were being dehumanised, if I would say so,” Njagi added.