Rights activists arrested during anti-abduction protests in Nairobi, Mombasa

The protests, aimed at demanding the immediate release of all abductees, saw activists vowing to escalate their action in the coming weeks as security was heightened across major urban centers.

In Nairobi’s Central Business District, prominent human rights activist Julius Kamau was among those arrested. 

Kamau had been protesting the alarming rise in abduction cases across the country.

“Why are you arresting me? Stop abductions in Kenya,” Kamau shouted as police apprehended him.

Elsewhere in Nairobi, anti-riot police dispersed protesters who had mobilized along Kimathi Street, preventing further demonstrations in the city.

In Kilifi County, dozens of demonstrators gathered in Mtwapa, decrying the growing number of abduction cases.

“Ni jukumu letu kufunza watoto, lakini haimaanishi watekwe nyara kiholelea. Aliyewateka nyara basi ni nani?” a Mtwapa resident asked during the protests, emphasizing the responsibility of communities to educate and protect children while questioning the identity of those behind the abductions.

Authorities responded by deploying anti-riot police to patrol major towns, including Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kilifi. 

Officers maintained a visible presence on the streets, citing concerns over threats from demonstrators to disrupt normal operations if their demands were not addressed.

Protesters have called for an immediate end to the wave of abductions, which has sparked widespread fear and outrage across the country