Activist and leader of the Free Kenya Movement Bob Njagi has broken his silence on his 32-day abduction during which he opened up on how he was held in a tiny dark room and tortured.
The activist, accompanied by his fellow activists held a press conference in Kitengela where he recounted the terrifying experience. During the media engagement, the activist claimed his abduction was directly related to his active role in the July anti-government protests.
Njagi, while narrating his ordeal revealed he was abducted in Mlolongo on August 19 while traveling in a matatu. The activist explained four masked men approached him and accused him of carrying a gun. The men then dragged him out of the matatu and bundled him into a white car.
" I was tortured, drove into an unknown location then transferred into another car," the activist narrated.
The activist narrated that he spent 32 days in a dark 6 by 4 feet room, isolated from the outside world. He further claimed being denied food for two days. He started being fed only twice a week thereafter.
Njagi further narrated that he was only allowed to shower just once a week, leaving him in a constant state of physical and emotional despair. Despite the torture, the activist claimed that he was ready to forgive abductors but was determined to check government excesses.
The activist further announced that he is planning to sue the state for violating his rights. He expressed his strong conviction that the recent wave of abductions, and extrajudicial killings reported in the country must be stopped and he is determined to play his role in this.
"The government must compensate families that lost their loved ones during these illegal abductions", the activist said.
Njagi's family previously revealed that the ordeal damaged the activist, leading to mental disturbance. The relatives claimed that their kin had been under medical observance in the weeks following his release.
Bob Njagi was among the Kitengela 3 abducted by suspected state operatives over close links to businessman Jimi Wanjigi who has been accused of funding antigovernmental protestors.
Njagi was kidnapped alongside two brothers — Jamil and Aslam Longton. They were held incommunicado at unknown facilities for 32 days with no information on their whereabouts forthcoming.
Their disappearance prompted the High Court to direct the then-acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli to produce the missing persons in court after public outcry from the families.
Masengeli ignored court summons seven times and was convicted of contempt of court. He would later appear in court and apologized for his actions prompting the court to set him free.
On the same day Masengeli was acquitted, the Kitengela 3 were released by way of being dumped in Gachie located in the outskirts of Nairobi town.
