Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition has claimed that police abducted Raila Odinga’s bodyguard Maurice Ogeta on his way to work.
In a statement, ODM’s Director of Communication Philip Etale claimed that officers picked Odinga’s bodyguard on his way to work.
“Unknown people in plain clothes suspected to be police officers from the DCI have abducted Raila Odinga’s bodyguard Maurice Ogeta while driving to work, bundled in him in the car boot and driven away with him to unknown destination. His whereabouts remain unknown,” read Etale’s statement.
At the same time, the opposition claimed that police also arrested Odinga’s spokesperson after raiding his house.
“Police have a few minutes ago raided the house of Raila Odinga’s spokesman
Dennis Onyango, along Mbagathi Way, ransacked it and have driven off with him.”
Other Azimio Leaders Arrested
This comes hours after Babu Embakasi East Member of Parliament Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino said he was arrested and detained by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after arriving from Mombasa.
Also Read: LIVE UPDATES: Azimio Holds Countrywide Protests
The Embakasi MP announced his arrest via a social media post stating, ” I have been detained by the DCI after my arrival from Mombasa, currently under arrest.”
Several other leaders from the Raila Odinga-led camp were arrested on Wednesday, July 19 including Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga, Speaker Kilifi County Teddy Mwambire and MCA Mabatini Hon Wilfred Odallo.
Others are MCA, Ngei ward Redson Onyango, Budget officers at the Nairobi County Assembly Redson Onyango, Erick Otieno and Anthony Otsula.
Meanwhile, NARC Kenya Party leader Martha Karua through a statement on Wednesday, July 19 condemned the arrests.
Karua said the arrests are attempts to paralyze Azimio and its top leaders.
Also Read: List of Raila’s Allies Arrested So Far During Protests
“These illegal arrests and or abductions are a desperate attempt by the illegitimate Ruto Regime to paralyze Azimio and its top leaders and to sabotage the exercise of our constitutional right to peaceful demonstrations.” She stated.
Furthermore, there have been reports that some Azimio leaders have gone into hiding over fears of arrest.
According to reports, the leaders went into hiding on Tuesday, July 18 evening and up to Wednesday they were still missing from their usual residences.
Nonetheless, the opposition is staging nationwide demonstrations, seeking to have the President William Ruto-led administration reduce the high cost of living and do away with the finance act 2023.
