By Mandere Onyinkwa
Two Kenyan citizens, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, are finally free and back on home soil after their release from detention in Uganda late Friday night.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei confirmed the development on X, saying the two were handed over to Kenya’s High Commissioner in Uganda, Joash Maangi, following “lengthy engagements” with Ugandan authorities.
The pair were escorted by Ugandan officials to the Busia border, where they were received by Busia County Commissioner Chaunga Mwachaunga.
Their safe return has brought immense relief to their families and the wider activist community.
The two men had reportedly gone missing in Kampala on 1 October after attending a political event, prompting a public outcry and calls for swift government intervention.
For weeks, friends, civil society groups, and Kenyan officials worked behind the scenes to secure their release.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry has expressed deep gratitude to all those who played a role in the process, including Ugandan authorities who cooperated in the final stages.
Human-rights organisations have welcomed the news but are demanding a full explanation of the circumstances surrounding the disappearance and detention of the two men.
Njagi and Oyoo are expected to undergo medical assessments and debriefings.
A detailed statement from the Kenyan government is expected in the coming days, shedding more light on how the complex negotiations unfolded.
The return of the two men has been met with jubilation across Kenya.
It is a moment of relief after weeks of anxiety, uncertainty, and hope that never waned.