Activist Nicholas Oyoo has spoken about the physical abuse and intense questioning he endured while detained in Uganda with fellow activist Bob Njagi.
The revelations highlight growing concerns over the treatment of civil society actors in the region.
In an interview on Citizen TV, Oyoo said interrogators focused heavily on his phone, examining WhatsApp messages and asking detailed questions about his group memberships.
“They were trying to push me toward a certain narrative. When they thought I wasn’t answering correctly, they handcuffed me, tied me to a chair, and cained me twice,” he said.
The activists’ detention underscores ongoing risks for human rights defenders traveling or working in neighboring countries.
Human rights organizations have frequently warned about physical intimidation and coerced interrogations in East Africa, noting that such practices violate international standards on the treatment of detainees.
Eyewitness accounts from Njagi, detained alongside Oyoo, confirmed that physical punishment was used during questioning.
Kenyan civil society groups are calling for stronger protection mechanisms for nationals abroad and urgent investigations into the treatment of the activists.
Kenya and Uganda share close diplomatic and trade ties, but incidents involving the detention of foreign nationals often spark calls for intervention.
In recent years, Kenyan authorities have faced pressure to respond swiftly whenever citizens are held under questionable circumstances in neighboring countries.
The release of Oyoo and Njagi has brought attention to the broader human rights context in the region.
Both activists’ testimonies have sparked discussions among Kenyan advocacy groups, with calls for regional dialogue to ensure the safety of journalists, activists, and human rights defenders.