It has now been seven days since Kenyan activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo were reportedly abducted under unclear circumstances, and their whereabouts remain unknown. The two, both known for their outspoken activism and civic engagement, were last seen on October 1, 2025, in Nairobi, before going missing in what witnesses described as a targeted operation involving unidentified men.
Human rights defenders and civil society organizations have expressed deep concern over their disappearance, calling it a gross violation of human rights and a serious threat to civic freedom in Kenya.
“We are calling for the unconditional release of Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo,” reads a joint statement from regional human rights advocates. “Abductions are violations of human rights and must be condemned in the strongest terms.”
The Agora Human Rights Observatory, which has been tracking a wave of enforced disappearances across East Africa, notes that the cases of Njagi and Oyoo are part of a growing regional pattern involving activists, journalists, and critics who vanish under suspicious circumstances.
Families of the missing have urged the Kenyan government and security agencies to disclose their fate and ensure their immediate and safe return. They warn that the silence and lack of transparency surrounding such incidents only deepen fear and erode public trust in law enforcement institutions.
Human rights organizations are also pressing the African Union (AU), United Nations (UN), and international partners to demand accountability and pressure the Kenyan authorities to end the use of abductions as a political weapon.
The continued disappearance of Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by human rights defenders in East Africa—and of the urgent need for governments to uphold justice, protect free expression, and respect the rule of law.