Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has thrown his weight behind Ugandan authorities following the reported abduction of two Kenyan activists in Kampala, sparking fresh debate on the role of cross-border activism in East Africa.
The two activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo of the Free Kenya Movement, were reportedly seized by armed men in Kireka on Wednesday while visiting Uganda’s opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine.
Their disappearance has provoked condemnation from Kenyan human rights defenders who accuse Uganda of silencing dissent.
But Cherargei took a different position. In a statement posted on X, he faulted the activists for what he termed interference in Uganda’s internal politics.
“Our Kenyan activists should stop exporting bad manners to other countries because in Kenya there is too much freedom to them. The Uganda government must deal with anyone that wants to undermine or threaten their national security and integrity,” wrote Cherargei.
He argued that governments in the region have the responsibility to protect their sovereignty, citing past incidents where foreign activists were barred from engaging in political activities in neighboring countries such as Tanzania.
Cherargei’s remarks stand in sharp contrast to the growing outrage among Kenyan civil society groups, who are demanding the immediate release of Njagi and Oyoo.
His comments also highlight the rift between political leaders and rights defenders over how far activism should extend beyond national borders.
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