Human rights activist Boniface Mulinge Muteti has been found after going missing for four days following a protest in Nairobi.
Muteti was reportedly found in the Lukenya area of Machakos at around 3am on Friday, September 25, according to fellow activist and Vocal Africa CEO Hussein Khalid.
Khalid said Muteti had allegedly been left in the area before walking for a long distance until he reached a petrol station.
A good Samaritan at the petrol station then helped him make a phone call to his brother.
“He was dumped last night around 3am in the Lukenya area. He had to walk a long distance to a petrol station where he got a good Samaritan who helped him with a phone to call his brother,” Khalid said.
Khalid later said Muteti was weak, injured and disoriented. He was taken to Sanel Hospital in the Mlolongo area, where he was receiving treatment as family members, friends and fellow activists went to see him.
“He is disoriented, weak and injured. He is currently receiving treatment at Sanel Hospital in the Mlolongo area. Family, friends and comrades are proceeding there,” he said.
Muteti went missing after Nairobi protest
Muteti disappeared on Monday, September 21, during protests in Nairobi’s Central Business District calling for the release of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye.
Reports at the time indicated that Muteti had left other protesters to visit a cybercafe, where he intended to print a petition to be submitted to police.
He later informed people close to him that he had been arrested. His phone then became unreachable, leaving his family and fellow activists unable to establish where he was.
His disappearance raised concern among human rights organisations, including the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and Vocal Africa.
Family members and activists also reported the matter at the Central Police Station in Nairobi as they continued searching for him.
The reported disappearance had also attracted the attention of the courts.
On Thursday, September 24, an application was filed at the Milimani Law Courts seeking orders requiring police to account for Muteti’s whereabouts and, if he was in custody, produce him before the court.
The application named Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, DCI Director Mohammed Amin and the Attorney-General as respondents. It sought records relating to Muteti’s alleged arrest, detention and possible transfer.
With Muteti now found and receiving treatment, the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and how he ended up in Lukenya remain unclear.
