National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi has decried the alleged abduction of Gabriel Oguda by people believed to be police officers.
Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, June 25, Wandayi disclosed that Oguda, who works in his office, was missing. He wondered how he was supposed to discharge his duties if the officer assigned to him was abducted by the police.
“Up to this moment we are speaking here, we do not know the whereabouts of Mr Oguda, who is an officer in the Office of the Leader of Minority Party. An officer who is supposed to make our work possible,” Wandayi said.
According to Wandayi, Oguda issued a distress call at around 2.20 am, informing him that police officers were breaking into his compound.
“He called me under great distress, indicating that men he identified as police were forcefully entering his home. Ten minutes later, my phone was jammed, and I was unable to reach him,” Wandayi recounted.
Attempts by Wandayi and other members of the opposition to locate Oguda have since proved futile. Wandayi asked the police to inform them of the activist’s whereabouts, or at the very least, present him in court.
“This cannot be treated as business as usual. If such actions can happen to someone from my office, it threatens the independence of our Parliament,” Wandayi asserted.
He called out the police for failing to detail the cause of Oguda’s arrest.
“The government must explain why Oguda’s rights have been blatantly disregarded,” Wandayi demanded.
Responding to Wandayi’s issue, Speaker Moses Wetang’ula directed Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah to engage with the Inspector General of Police, Japheth Koome, and report back in less than two hours about Oguda’s whereabouts.
“Majority Leader, get in touch with IG and find out the whereabouts of the officer working in the office of the minority leader and report back to me in one or two hours,” Wetang’ula directed.
He further assured members of parliament of their aides’ protection, however, cautioned them against breaking the law.
“Your staff will be protected under my watch. But we will not protect those who have broken the law,” stated Wetangula.
