The office of Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah was raided by unknown people on Tuesday, July 23, 2023.
The raid took place at around 10:00 am when a group of men broke into Omtatah’s office and ransacked it.
The men reportedly took away computers, files, and other documents.
Okiya Omtatah Criticism
Omtatah, who is a vocal critic of the government, said that he believes the raid was politically motivated. He said that he has been receiving threats from government officials in recent months.
“This is a clear case of intimidation,” Omtatah said in a statement. “I will not be cowed by these threats. I will continue to fight for the rights of the people.”
The police have said that they are investigating the raid. However, no arrests have been made so far.
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah’s Office Raided
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah's office raided by unknown people pic.twitter.com/iqGPrfzY5Z
— Kenyans.co.ke (@Kenyans) July 23, 2023
The raid on Omtatah’s office has drawn widespread condemnation. Human rights groups have called on the government to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“This is a serious attack on the rule of law,” said Muthoni Wanyeki, the executive director of the Kenya Human Rights Commission. “The government must ensure that those responsible for this raid are brought to justice.”
JUST IN :
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah's office raided by unknown people pic.twitter.com/BfUmQ7rl1F— Omwamba 🇰🇪 (@omwambaKE) July 23, 2023
The raid on Omtatah’s office is a reminder of the dangers that human rights defenders face in Kenya. Omtatah is one of many Kenyans who have been targeted for their work.
In recent years, there has been a rise in attacks on human rights defenders, including lawyers, journalists, and activists.
The government has a responsibility to protect human rights defenders. The raid on Omtatah’s office is a clear violation of this responsibility. The government must take steps to ensure that human rights defenders can work without fear of reprisal.
