NAIROBI — Kenyan police on Monday arrested several activists, including human rights defenders Julius Kamau and Collins Otieno, during a demonstration in Nairobi calling for the release of detained Ugandan opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye.
The protesters gathered in Nairobi’s Central Business District and called for answers over Besigye’s disappearance from Nairobi in November 2024 and his subsequent transfer to Uganda, where he faces treason-related charges.
According to Kenyan media reports, the activists planned to march towards the President’s Office along Harambee Avenue after submitting a petition seeking an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Besigye’s transfer. Police later dispersed the demonstration and arrested several participants.
Kamau and Otieno were among those detained. Images from the protest showed police officers bundling activists into a police vehicle.
Before his arrest, Kamau called for Besigye to be released to receive medical treatment, citing concerns over the Ugandan opposition leader’s health.
“Besigye will not be in prison today. What is going on? He should not be going through that. You know the man is ailing. He is very sick,” Kamau said, according to People Daily.
The activists also called for an independent investigation into the circumstances of Besigye’s transfer from Kenya to Uganda, including allegations that Kenyan security officials may have been involved.
Kenya’s government has previously acknowledged cooperation with Ugandan authorities in Besigye’s transfer. Activists and rights groups have questioned whether the operation complied with Kenya’s legal requirements governing extradition.
Besigye’s disappearance
Besigye disappeared in Nairobi on November 16, 2024, before reappearing in Uganda several days later. He was subsequently arraigned before a military court and later moved to proceedings before a civilian court, where he faces treason-related charges.
Amnesty International said in February 2026 that Besigye had been detained at Luzira Prison for more than 400 days and required urgent specialised medical care. The organisation said he had been forcibly returned to Uganda after being abducted in Nairobi.
His health has remained a major concern for his family and supporters.
In July, Besigye collapsed during a court hearing in Kampala and was taken to hospital. His wife, Winnie Byanyima, subsequently said he was in intensive care and called for him to receive specialised treatment.
The Nairobi protesters said their concerns extended beyond Besigye’s case to broader questions about cross-border security operations, accountability and the protection of human rights within the East African Community.
Kenyan police had not issued a detailed public explanation for the arrests by the time of publication, according to reports.
The arrests come amid continued scrutiny of Besigye’s detention and the circumstances surrounding his transfer from Kenya to Uganda nearly two years ago.
