A man who developed a 'timetable' for protests slated for Wednesday, June 25, has reportedly gone missing, with reports rife that he had been abducted.
Ndiangui Kinyagia, a blogger and activist, had shared a post on his X platform on Thursday, June 19, detailing the itinerary of the June 25 protests that included a plan to march to State House and the declaration of a new republic.
In the timetable, the protests were to commence at 8:00am with an opening prayer, followed by a praise and worship session, then ten minutes of silence for fallen Gen Zs who died in last year’s anti-Finance Bill protests.
Other main items of the agenda included speeches by representatives of the parents of departed youth, time slated for running battles with police, and an assembly by citizens at the main roundabouts in Nairobi, which would occur at noon.
After the assembly, citizens would hold prayers as they prepared to head to the State House, with Kenyans expected to arrive at the house on the hill at 1:00pm. This is despite the State House being a protected area.
Afterwards, the citizens would then lower the UDA Presidential Standard and raise the Kenyan flag. A new republic would then be declared “by the people for the people.” A new transition council would then be sworn in, with the last agenda being action meted out on the Head of State.
The post is believed to be the cause of his disappearance, with the Law Society of Kenya providing an account of how the alleged abduction took place.
Through a statement, LSK disclosed that eyewitness reports revealed that on the afternoon of Saturday, June 21, Kinyagia’s residence was surrounded by between six to ten Subaru vehicles. His home was forcibly broken into, and the last communication he had was with his mother around 1:00pm that day.
Since then, he has disappeared without a trace. A report was filed at Kinoo Police Station, and an inventory of seized items, including laptops, passports, and electronic devices, was submitted.
“This incident bears the hallmarks of an enforced disappearance and a possible unlawful arrest or detention. The LSK views it as a grave violation of constitutional rights and a direct attack on the rule of law in Kenya,” LSK stated.
“We are demanding immediate and transparent action from the authorities. We call on any individual with relevant information, no matter how small, to come forward,” they added.
In a phone interview with Kenyans.co.ke, LSK boss Faith Odhiambo, on Tuesday, June 24, revealed that they would be moving to court to compel police to issue an update on the disappearance. According to Odhiambo, the family confirmed that up to now, they have not been able to trace their kin.
Ahead of the protests, the government has warned against the intimidation and provocation of police officers. Further, it cautioned against the shifting of the demos from a peaceful march to violent protests.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had earlier today warned against any intended march to State House, calling for restraint against going to such protected areas.
In addition, President William Ruto pledged his support for security agencies but still urged them to operate within the law.
It remains to be seen how the protests pan out, with civilians worried that they may disrupt crucial transport and commercial activities.
