Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s bodyguard, Maurice Ogeta has been released.
The Director of Communication for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) on Saturday, July 22 announced that abductors had freed Ogeta in the wee hours of the night.
In a statement at 4:00am, Etale claimed that a blindfolded Ogeta was left in the middle of the road.
“Maurice Ogeta, bodyguard of Raila Odinga was released from police custody a few minutes to 1:00am and driven while blindfolded and left in the middle of the road in Ruai towards Kangundo.
His car was vandalized. However, he is happy to be alive but still distraught and in shock,” read Etale’s statement.
The release of Raila’s aide came hours after the High Court ordered the police to produce Ogeta as the opposition and his family mounted pressure on the state.
Ogeta went missing on Wednesday, July 19 early in the morning on his way to work, on the day the opposition was to kick off its 3-day protests.
Also Read: Raila’s Bodyguard Maurice Ogeta Abducted
Justice L.N Mugambi gave the orders after Ogeta’s brother Christopher Onyango Ogettah filed a petition on Thursday, which the court certified as urgent.
“That, pending the hearing and determination of this application inter-parties, a writ of habeus corpus is hereby issued directing the 2nd Respondent to produce Maurice Ogeta before a court of competent jurisdiction in Nairobi or any other Court within the Republic of Kenya for an inquiry into the issue of his detention,” ruled the judge.
Not just Maurice Ogeta
Meanwhile, Ogeta is among Raila’s allies who were reportedly detained by the police following anti-government protests that ended on Friday.
Others included Babu Owino, Odinga’s spokesman Dennis Onyango and Calvin Okoth Otieno alias Gaucho – the self-proclaimed ghetto president.
The court released Babu Owino on a cash bail of Ksh100,000 on Friday after he was charged with subversion activities.
Also Read: Babu Owino Freed on Ksh.100K Cash Bail
Moreover, Minority leader in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi revealed that Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka was under house arrest in Karen.
Similarly, the opposition chief, Raila Odinga confirmed the detention of the Wiper Leader as he denied reports of meeting foreign envoys mounting pressure on him and President William Ruto to have dialogue and end the political stalemate.