Several content creators, influencers go missing ahead of anti-Finance Bill protests » Capital News
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 25 – Several content creators and influencers have gone missing following a series of arrests ahead of Tuesday’s anti-Finance Bill protests
Their arrests have been linked to state agents who have in recent days stepped up their crackdown on a section of Kenyans who have been thought to be among those mobilizing for the protestors.
All those missing have in recent days been making a series of posts against the proposed Bill and critical to the government.
Among those arrested is blogger Gabriel Oguda who has been a key supporter of the ongoing protests and popular influencer Osama Otero, who has been in recent days hosting Spaces providing a platform for Finance Bill discussions.
Oguda informed his followers of the impending arrest in the wee hours of the morning disclosing that police officers were outside his home via social media.
“Guys. Cops are at my gate,” Oguda said in a post on X at 2:18 am before going radio silent.
Blogger Oguda’s arrest was later confirmed by his brother Zachary Oguda.
“I can confirm that my brother has been taken by unknown gunmen from his house 5 minutes ago,” he said in a post in X at 2:53 a.m. informing his brother’s followers that any posts coming from the blogger’s accounts at the time were scheduled.
Otero informed his followers of impending arrest a few minutes after Oguda’s distress message disclosing that five people believed to be state agents were knocking at his door.
“Guys[believed to be police officers]are outside where I am,” he said in a post on X at 3 a.m.
Oguda and Otero have yet to be heard from until now and their whereabouts remain unknown.
Other X users who are suspected to have been abducted are Shad Khalif who was accosted by unknown individuals in South B before being forced into a vehicle on Sunday and
John Frank Githiaka alias Franje was taken by unidentified plain-clothe officers from his office at Beast Athletic Offices on Baringo Road in Kahawa Sukari.
A CCTV footage circulated online showed the moment Franje was arrested with the men including a masked armed individual who donned a bullet proof vest.
Other influencers believed to have been arrested include Drey Mwangi and Harriet among others.
The whereabouts of those abducted are yet to be established as the government remains mum on the motive of the arrests.
On Monday evening Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki cautioned that while the government will allow protests to go on, they would not condone any form of unlawlessness and interference of those opposed to the protests
“Non protesters and those who hold contrary views with the protesters are also bound by the same Constitutional and legal imperatives,” he said.
CS Kindiki maintained that National security organs shall remain neutral, apolitical and firmly enforce the law.
The Law Society of Kenya(LSK) and human rights groups have condemned the arrests terming them unlawful.
LSK President Faith Odhiambo has called out the government over the detention of the protestors and urged the members of the public “to be extra vigilant at this time.”
“To these rogue cops and their masters, you may flout and contravene the constitution, but you cannot extinguish its resilient spirit; the law will catch up with you,” she said.
She appealed to the public to continue to share and communicate any information they may have to help establish the whereabouts of missing influencers.
“We continue to do what we can and must, let us be each other’s keeper.”
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