The Defenders Coalition, a Kenyan human rights organization, has demanded an immediate and independent investigation into the alleged secret detention and torture of two human rights defenders. Boniface Mulinge Muteti and Collins Otieno were arrested on September 21, 2026, during demonstrations in Nairobi's Central Business District, where they were demanding the release of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye.
According to the coalition, Muteti and Otieno were not booked at any official police station, and their whereabouts were unknown for several days. The coalition stated that the two men were held incommunicado in unknown locations, where they were severely tortured and subjected to inhuman and degrading conditions.
Muteti was found alive in the Lukenya area of Machakos County on September 25, 2026, and was rushed to a medical facility. He alleged that his captors blindfolded him, denied him food, burned his legs, forcibly shaved his head, and inflicted severe physical abuse. Muteti also claimed that his interrogators questioned him about his activism and funding sources.
Collins Otieno was found abandoned along Thika Road on September 26, 2026, and was receiving emergency medical care. The coalition reported that Otieno was weak, disoriented, and visibly injured. These incidents have drawn comparisons to the secret detention and torture patterns reported by six other activists following demonstrations on June 25.
The Defenders Coalition has formally requested intervention from several agencies, including the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the National Police Service, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). The coalition is urging IPOA to conduct an independent probe into the arrest, detention, and torture of Muteti and Otieno.
The coalition has also called on the Inspector General and the National Police Service to publicly detail the arrest, custody, and movement records of both individuals. Furthermore, the rights group has urged the DCI and ODPP to establish a specialized prosecutorial process to charge those responsible for the violations.
The Defenders Coalition has appealed to international bodies, including the UN Special Procedures and the African Commission's Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, to pressure Kenyan authorities for answers and monitor the safety of targeted activists. The coalition has also urged the Kenyan government to enforce the Prevention of Torture Act fully and establish clear policies guaranteeing protection for human rights advocates.
Key points
- The Defenders Coalition demands an independent investigation into the alleged torture of two human rights defenders.
- The two activists, Muteti and Otieno, were arrested during demonstrations in Nairobi's Central Business District.
- The coalition has urged the Kenyan government to enforce the Prevention of Torture Act fully and establish clear policies guaranteeing protection for human rights advocates.
