Human rights activist and Vocal Africa CEO Hussein Khalid has raised fresh concern over the reported disappearance of fellow activist Collins Otieno, just hours after missing activist Boniface Mulinge Muteti was found alive in the Lukenya area. Khalid is now calling for Otieno to be located and released, as questions continue to surround Muteti’s disappearance and the circumstances of his ordeal.
Highlights
- Collins Otieno has reportedly gone missing while seeking help over Muteti’s disappearance.
- Hussein Khalid has demanded answers and Otieno’s immediate release.
- Boniface Mulinge Muteti was found alive in Lukenya early Friday.
- Muteti was taken to hospital in Mlolongo in a weak and disoriented condition.
- A court application had earlier sought answers over Muteti’s whereabouts.
Main Story
Alarm Raised Over Collins Otieno
The reported disappearance of Collins Otieno has sparked fresh concern among human rights defenders, with activists demanding clarity over his whereabouts.
Hussein Khalid, the CEO of Vocal Africa, questioned where Otieno was and insisted that defending human rights should not expose activists to criminalisation.
Khalid called for Otieno to be found and released, adding to mounting pressure for authorities to account for activists whose whereabouts have recently raised concern.
Otieno Was Seeking Help Over Muteti
According to accounts shared by activists, Otieno had become involved in efforts to establish what had happened to fellow activist Boniface Mulinge Muteti.
Muteti had been missing since Monday, September 21, prompting his family, friends and fellow human rights defenders to intensify efforts to locate him.
Otieno reportedly went to report the disappearance and seek assistance in tracing Muteti. It was during that process that he himself was reported missing.
His whereabouts and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance remained unclear at the time of publication, with no immediate public explanation indicating whether he had been arrested, detained or taken elsewhere.
Muteti Found Alive in Lukenya
The concern surrounding Otieno came shortly after a breakthrough in the search for Muteti.
Muteti was reportedly found in the Lukenya area at around 3 am on Friday. He later made his way to a Shell petrol station, where a member of the public helped him get in touch with his family.
He was subsequently taken to a hospital in Mlolongo for medical attention.
Khalid said Muteti appeared to be in poor condition when he was located, describing him as weak, injured and disoriented.
Family members, friends and fellow activists were said to be heading to the hospital as he received treatment.
Court Action Had Been Filed Over Muteti
Muteti’s disappearance had already escalated into a legal matter, with activists seeking intervention from the courts.
On Thursday, September 24, an application was filed at the Milimani Law Courts seeking orders requiring Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Director of Criminal Investigations Mohammed Amin to provide information on Muteti’s whereabouts.
The application sought clarity on whether Muteti had been arrested, held in custody, transferred, released or otherwise processed by authorities.
The legal move came as pressure mounted for authorities to account for the missing activist.
Questions Remain After Muteti’s Return
Although Muteti has now been located, his ordeal has left several unanswered questions.
Activists want to establish what happened between the time he disappeared in Nairobi and when he was found in Lukenya days later.
The circumstances surrounding his reported injuries, how he ended up in Lukenya and whether anyone was responsible for his disappearance remain unclear.
The reported disappearance of Collins Otieno has now added another layer to the growing concerns among human rights defenders.
For activists and their families, the immediate priority remains establishing where Otieno is and ensuring that those whose rights may have been violated are accounted for.
As the search for answers continues, the bigger question remains: who will account for the safety and whereabouts of Kenya’s missing activists?
