Research and policy analyst at National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi's office, Gabriel Oguda has confirmed his release from police custody after he was abducted and held incommunicado for 24 hours.
Speaking after his release, Oguda noted that he was released by the police without any charges preferred against him.
The Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) employee confirmed that he was safe and doing okay.
However, he communicated that he had feared for his life at some point, wondering what would have happened to him.
On the other hand, he thanked Kenyans for the pressure that they applied on the authorities, noting that the uproar on social media helped with securing his release.
On the other hand, he thanked Opiyo Wandayi for intervening in the case and notifying Parliament about his abduction.
"I want to confirm to the whole country that I am now free. They released me without any charges. You should not be worried about my safety anymore.
"At some point, I did not know what was going to happen but thank you for putting the pressure. I want to thank my leader Opiyo Wandayi for the interventions he did. I also want to thank the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo," he stated.
Oguda was abducted in the wee hours of Tuesday, June 25.
The incident caused an uproar among Kenyans on social media platforms with Wandayi seeking a statement in Parliament over the arrests.
Consequently, following the statement by Wandayi, National Assembly speaker Moses Wetangula directed Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah to liaise with the Inspector General of Police and table a report on the same.
However, when the National Assembly was being adjourned on Tuesday afternoon, a report had yet to be made public. The IG had been expected to explain the reasons behind the arrests.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Martha Koome warned police against holding Kenyans beyond the stipulated timeframes in the law. She noted that all Kenyans had a right to be presented before a court of law after an arrest.
"I have noted with deep concern the numerous allegations regarding the abductions of protesters amid the ongoing mass protests in our country. Such actions, executed by persons not identifying themselves and without presenting the abducted individuals before a court of law, amount to a direct assault on the rule of law, human rights, and constitutionalism, which are our guiding national values and principles of governance as enshrined in Article 10 of the Constitution," the CJ stated.
