Student Leader Narrates Near-Death Experience at the Hands of Abductors

Kenya School of Law (KSL) President and student Joshua Okayo has revealed what he went through in the hands of his abductors.

In an emotional interview on July 9, Joshua recounted the events leading to his capture by unidentified individuals who drove him to an unknown location during the peak of the anti-tax protests led by young Kenyans.

According to Okayo, his predicaments stemmed from a statement he issued in response to the abduction of two Kenya School of Law students in his capacity as the leader of the governing council.

“The day before, I was told that people were looking for me because two students from the Kenya School of law had been abducted at 5am in the morning but they were later found. I had issued a statement as the governing council,” he said.

Prior to his abduction, the KSL President had reportedly received a warning that unknown people were pursuing him.

Okayo went on to state he received calls from three mysterious numbers asking him to change his location as he was being pursued. While taking a stroll a few meters from his residence, he heard a voice asking him to say hello to his KSL comrades and felt the urge to stop and engage them.

He would, however, encounter a group of middle-aged men who arrested him and led him to a waiting vehicle.  The unidentified men then handcuffed him and tied a blindfold on his eyes as the vehicle drove off.

Side by side image of KSL president Joshua Okayo. Photo/ Courtesy

While in the vehicle, Okayo was interrogated briefly about the protests and the statement he issued. According to him, the alleged abductors were determined to obtain information about the financiers behind the protests and their motive.

Joshua also recalls reality dawning on him after the abductors escorted him to the room and left without saying a word before coming back to torture him and interrogate him more.

“When they left, that is the first time I faced reality that abductions happen, when I saw that I was put in there and left and they never told me anything, they left. They took time, I could not estimate really what time they took,” Okayo recalled while struggling to hold back his tears.

At some point during the ordeal, Okayo noted that he was hungry and thirsty. However, his requests for water fell on deaf ears as they declined his pleas. All this time, the abductors insisted on the question about who the financiers of the protests.

“When they came back, they started beating me on my ankles with metal, while asking me the same questions, when I didn’t give them satisfactory answers the first time, they left. An hour or two, they returned with the same questions, I was hungry, and I had not taken water. I asked them for water, they never gave me,” he said.

Also Read: Family Reveals Health Condition of KSL President After Abduction and Torture

Joshua Okayo Released

Joshua further narrated that he fell asleep weary despite the fear of what they would do after coming back.

However, when they did, they escorted him to a car and drove off again, for about two hours according to Joshua’s accounts. 

“I stayed there and slept a bit, but you know you can’t sleep for long because you don’t know the next time they will come or what they would do to you. When they came back the final time, they got me out of the room, we walked, I was put in the car, and we drove off,” he said.

“They drove like two hours, at that time they were strangling me, while hitting me on the chest, and legs. They were still hitting my ankles and legs. Then they later threw me off a moving vehicle. I just felt I’ve been thrown, I fell down and rolled and when I stopped, I kept quiet, I didn’t move or leave. I didn’t look up because I didn’t have energy to do anything.”

Joshua also stated that he was in a state of confusion when he was released and only came to his senses when villagers who were gathered around him tried checking if he was okay.

“I didn’t know or understand myself, until I woke up and I heard people trying to wake me up. So, I felt someone shake me and when I looked up, I saw a whole village around me, speaking in Kikuyu language.”  

Also Read: Ruto Addresses Police Shootings & Mass Abductions

Moments Before Abduction

His abduction was among the series reported during and after the anti-Finance Bill protests. Various stakeholders have criticized the government over the alleged abduction despite its sustained denial. In a statement on Tuesday, July 9, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki noted that the government will investigate the claims about enforced disappearances and abductions.

He, however, maintained that orchestrators of the crimes committed in the pretext of peaceful demonstrations would be prosecuted.

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