Raila denies reports his bodyguard Maurice Ogeta has been freed
Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga has denied claims that his private bodyguard Maurice Ogeta, who was allegedly abducted on Wednesday, July 19, has been freed.
In a tweet on Thursday, the opposition leader dismissed the reports as "fake" and called for the release of the guard.
"We will leave no one behind. #FreeOgeta," Raila captioned a video calling for the release of all Azimio supporters arrested during the coalition's anti-government protests yesterday.
"Maurice Ogeta was abducted yesterday, July 19, 2023, and has not been released!" He added.
We will leave no one behind. #FreeOgeta pic.twitter.com/yAeAeiXF9H
— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) July 20, 2023
A section of the media had earlier reported that Ogeta was freed on Wednesday evening, hours after he was allegedly abducted.
Philip Etale, the ODM party Director of Communications, had earlier announced that Ogeta was abducted by unknown people in plain clothes, suspected to be officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), while heading to work.
The guard is said to have been bundled into a waiting car and whisked away to unknown location.
"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," Etale said.
Also arrested in a similar fashion, Etale said, was Raila's spokesperson Dennis Onyango, who was allegeldy taken into custody after a raid at his home along Mbagathi Way.
The incidents occurred moments before the third wave of anti-government protests kicked off in several parts of the country.
The opposition has called for protests across the country to demonstrate against the high cost of living, reconstitution of the electoral commission and the raid of opposition parties by the government among other issues.
