Activist Bob Njagi recounts 32-day abduction ordeal, calls for justice

Bob Njagi (second) one of the victims of abductions in white, lawyer Fred Oloo (second right) and other activists address a press briefing at Galaxy resort in Kitengela, on October 9, 2024. [Gisiri Christopher, Standard]

Activist Bob Njagi, fought to contain tears on Wednesday as he narrated his ordeal during the 32 days of abduction.

In a never-heard-before chilling account, for the first time, activist Bob Njagi opened up about his month-long captivity story of emerging from the shadows of his abductors.

Njagi said he was denied food for the first two days and that he only showered once a week.

In an emotional press briefing held in Kitengela, Njagi broke his silence 20 days after his release from forceful abduction, telling appalling experience that he endured.

Amid despair written on his face, Njagi narrated how he escaped death by a whisker. 

"I was whisked into a building and ushered into a small, very dark room. It was the size of six by four. I was left on the floor handcuffed at the back and blindfolded for two days without food," he narrated.

"Only some water was administered occasionally by one of the men and on the third day, the handcuffs were removed from the back side and my hands were cuffed on the front side. I was then moved into another room," he added.

It is in this room that Njagi details was completely dark that he got a "small mattress and blanket,"

"This is where I stayed locked up, uncuffed, and light-coiled for the next 30 days. The only human interaction I got was when the door opened twice a day," the activist said.

Meanwhile, while held captive, his family waited in hope, as days blurred into weeks and as a fruitless search went on in every nook and cranny.

And as this went on, their abductors kept shuffling them from one secret location to another cutting them off from the outside world.

Their merciless captors spoke not a word, leaving them to grapple with their fate in cold silence.

Their eventual release, timed suspiciously with the swearing-in of the new Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and the sentencing of then acting inspector General of police Gilbert Masengeli.

But even with the freedom marking the end of a tormenting chapter, the painful experience raises some uncomfortable questions. Who orchestrated their abduction? And why?

On Wednesday, Njagi narrated that while held captive, in the mornings, an officer would give him "a cup of tea, remove the waste bucket and replace it with another. During lunch hour, I was served with a meal that would barely keep me alive."

The conditions of his captivity he described as unbearably grim, saying that he survived by the mercy of God.

"The food was unpalatable but I forced myself to eat in order to get some strength and to live to see another day, hoping and praying that God would rescue me from this abyss. My health depreciated very fast and I was dehydrated and lost a lot of weight during the 32 days of abduction," he stated.

He added: "Once a week, I would be led blindfolded into a room where I showered for 10 minutes before returning back to my cell."

He disclosed that his abduction at Mlolongo from a passenger vehicle en route to Kitengela from Nairobi city centre where he boarded a vehicle came hours after he left Kamukunji Police Station.

"It was then that four masked men, hooded men, got into the vehicle shouting while pointing at me,"

He was then shoved out of the vehicle and forcefully bundled into a white car while being assaulted with "kicks, blows, slaps."

"I was then blindfolded and handcuffed at the back and moved into a second awaiting vehicle that had four men. We drove in complete silence for another 30 minutes until we arrived at our destination.'

Njagi, who was in the company of fellow activists, announced plans to sue the state, not only for violating his rights but also to put an end to the rising cases of abductions across the country.

 “The government must compensate families who have lost their loved ones in these unlawful disappearances,” Njagi urged.

''The state should stop this abduction of innocent people, Kenya is a democratic country and people should move freely'' he added.

However, Njagi appealed to the state to compensate those who were abducted or killed during the anti-government protests saying they were just innocent.

''I have forgiven those who did all this to me, however, I would appeal to the state to compensate those who were killed or abducted for no reason, let justice prevail for everyone'' he added.

Earlier, armed police officers had pitch camp at the hotel where the presser was scheduled to take place, denying them a chance to address the media.

However, the Freekenya Movement, managed to avoid the officers and later held a presser in a different location without the know-how of the officers.

The FreeKenya Movement Secretary General Nichorus Oloohas also condemned the continued targeting and abduction of human rights defenders and activists.

“This is not the first time that Comrade Bob and other human rights defenders from Kitengela have had run-ins with the police. The police, known for their heavy-handedness in dealing with protests, must respect this constitutional right,” said Oloo.

He added that the manner in which Njagi was abducted leaves one questioning what kind of country Kenya is becoming.