Raila Odinga’s bodyguard Maurice Ogeta is among a handful of Azimio affiliates who are said to have been ‘abducted’ by state agents on Wednesday, July 19, 2023.
ODM Communications Director Philip Etale in a tweet on Wednesday alleged that Ogeta was abducted en route to work by unknown people in plain clothes suspected to be officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Speaking to Nation, Raila said his bodyguard Ogeta had been freed but the whereabouts of Embakasi East MP Babu Owino remained unknown.
The Azimio leader, who did not reveal his whereabouts, called on his supporters to stop today’s demos at 5 pm and resume on Thursday morning.
“We will continue with our peaceful demonstrations as planned. But we will stop at 5 pm today and resume tomorrow morning. We will continue to agitate for our rights as Kenyans, we won’t give up,” Raila said.
Ogeta’s family
Raila’s announcement about his bodyguard’s release comes after Ogeta’s family called for the immediate release of their kin.
Speaking to the press, the family lamented that Ogeta’s only sin was his association with his boss Raila Odinga.
“We the K’Omollo community have learnt with shock the abduction of our son Maurice Ogeta this morning of 19th July 2023 by suspected government agents on his way to work. Maurice has been a security guard for the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga for over the years and has done so with dedication and within the law. We the K’Omollo community demand the immediate release of Mr Ogeta whose only sin is his association with the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga at a time when people of Kenya are under siege by their own government,” the family said.
Unconditional release
Lawyers representing Babu Owino and eight other Azimio affiliates, suspected to be detained by police, filed a case in court seeking an order to release them immediately and unconditionally.
The others are Raila’s spokesman Dennis Onyango, bodyguard Maurice Ogeta (now released), Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga, Teddy Mwambire, Wilfred Odalo, Redson Onyango, Erick Otieno, and Anthony Otsyula.
The nine have alleged that they were on July 19, 2023, arrested at various places within Nairobi County and whisked to various destinations that are unknown to their family members, friends and acquaintances within the ranks of the official opposition of the government in Kenya.
