A month-long push by Kenyan journalists is being credited with helping secure the release of two activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, who were abducted in Uganda and held without communication for several weeks.
NTV’s Fredrick Muitiriri, one of the journalists who covered the case, said the persistence of Kenyan media was crucial in keeping the matter in the spotlight until the activists regained their freedom.
He shared on Facebook that editors across different newsrooms made a collective choice to continue asking questions and challenging official silence.
“Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo are free because of a strong and independent media. For weeks, we kept telling their story, asking tough questions, and reminding authorities that the public was watching," Muitiriri wrote.
The two activists had gone missing in early October, triggering concern from civil society and relatives who accused security agencies of failing to act quickly.
Their disappearance sparked public debate about cross-border abductions and Kenya’s diplomatic response to such incidents.
According to Muitiriri, Kenyan journalists coordinated coverage from multiple angles—news reports, interviews with legal experts, and studio debates—designed to keep public pressure on government officials.
He said the sustained reporting forced attention from both Nairobi and Kampala.
The case has once again raised questions about media freedom and its link to democracy in the region.
Rights groups, including the Kenya Human Rights Commission, have often noted that consistent coverage of such cases is one of the few tools left to hold governments accountable.
Kenya currently ranks 116th on the 2024 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, ahead of Uganda and Tanzania but still facing challenges related to political interference and journalist intimidation.
Muitiriri said these obstacles underline why protecting the press remains vital for citizens’ rights.
“Even those who criticize us know that when they are in trouble, the media will still show up for them,” he noted in his post.
Njagi and Oyoo’s release on Friday night has brought relief to family members and renewed calls for stronger safeguards for activists and journalists working across borders.