Lawyer Breaks Down Recounting Abduction, Beating, and Being Dumped 90km from Home

 In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…

• Joshua Okayo, the president of the student council at the Kenya School of Law, was abducted and tortured after participating in protests against the 2024 Finance Bill and government malpractices.

• Despite his ordeal, Okayo remains determined to fight for justice and support the protests, while the government has promised to investigate the incident and uphold constitutional rights.

Joshua Okayo, the president of the student council at the Kenya School of Law (KSL), recently shared a harrowing ordeal he endured following his abduction on June 26, 2024. 

This traumatic incident occurred shortly after Okayo participated in protests against the 2024 Finance Bill and various government malpractices.

The abduction took place at his rented residence in Olerai, Rongai, where he was seized by individuals believed to be security officers. 

Blindfolded and forced into a vehicle, Okayo was driven aimlessly while being relentlessly interrogated about the protests. 

His captors demanded details about the demonstrations, including information about the financiers and the involvement of KSL students.

For 30 grueling minutes, Okayo faced incessant questioning from his abductors, who only paused to demand more information. He was then transferred to another vehicle, where his ordeal continued. 

Forced into the trunk of the car, he was driven around for hours before being placed in a dark room, still blindfolded and deprived of food and water.

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The torture was brutal. "They beat my chest, legs, and ankles, strangled me, and demanded information I didn't possess," Okayo recounted. 

Despite his truthful responses, his captors were dissatisfied and continued their abuse. On the morning of June 28, Okayo's nightmare ended when he was thrown out of a moving vehicle near the Maragua River in Murang'a County. "I rolled several times on the ground, too weak to move," he recalled. Locals eventually discovered him, attended to his injuries, and helped him contact his family.

Okayo's ordeal began on June 25, when he joined friends in protests at the Parliament Buildings in Nairobi. 

These demonstrations were sparked by opposition to the Finance Bill 2024 and issues such as government corruption and the appointment of unqualified individuals to key positions. 

During the protests, a friend of Okayo's warned that participants faced three possible outcomes: some might be shot dead, others injured, and some might leave unharmed. 

Most protestors believed it was worth risking their lives to ensure their voices were heard.

In response to the abductions and arbitrary arrests during the protests, the government has pledged to investigate and hold those responsible accountable. 

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki assured the public of the government's commitment to protecting constitutional rights and warned against exploiting peaceful protests to incite chaos.

Despite his harrowing experience, Okayo remains determined to fight for justice and support the protests.