Published on 31/07/2024
Governor Anyang Nyong’o of Kisumu County is demanding answers from the National Police Service (NPS) after 36 Ugandan opposition politicians were arrested and deported.
The politicians, members of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Party were violently taken from Ukweli Pastoral Centre along the Kisumu-Kakamega highway. Nyong’o, in his statement, condemned the brutal arrests and questioned the legality of the deportations.

He emphasized the need for accountability and protection of political freedoms. The governor called for an urgent investigation into the incident. This event has raised serious concerns about human rights and cross-border relations.
Nyong’o says according to Ugandan opposition leader Kiiza Besigye, the FDC politicians had just concluded the meeting on July 23 when a group of armed people believed to be Ugandan and Kenyan Security personnel broke into their rooms, assaulted, arrested and drove them back to Uganda in the middle of the night.
Nyong’o says the politicians had been lawfully allowed to enter Kenya by immigration officials to attend the meeting only to be later roughed up and deported.
While affirming that the County Government of Kisumu has no link with the politicians, Nyong’o said that the incident was unfortunate and condemned violation meted against them while within the territory of Kisumu County.
Nyong’o says Kenyan police should clarify why their officers were involved in the attack.
He says there is a need for detailed investigations into the matter adding that Kenya is a democratic country that obeys International Human Rights charters and should not be used to curtail the rights of other people legally in the country.