Release our son, family of Raila's bodyguard tells State

The family of ODM leader Raila Odinga’s bodyguard says it does not know where he is two days after he was reportedly arrested.

Maurice Ogeta’s family members, who spoke from their home in Komollo, Rarieda sub-county, said they are yet to hear from him and want the police to tell them where he is and why he was arrested.

Ogeta is said to have been abducted by unknown people on his way to work amid the ongoing anti-government protests that have been called by Raila and other opposition leaders.

In a statement, ODM Director of Communications Philip Etale said unknown men, in plain clothes and who they suspect to be police officers, waylaid and abducted Mr Ogeta.

He said the armed men flagged Ogeta down, bundled him in his car boot and drove off.

Vehicle stalled

"After driving for a few minutes, the vehicle stalled, and they got him out of the boot and demanded that he shows them how to restart it. They put him back into the boot and sped off to an unknown destination," said Etale.

According to his younger brother, Chris Ogeta, they have not been able to relocate him.

"We have been trying to reach him on the phone but all his lines are off. We are in pain as a family. We are appealing to the government to release him because we are certain they know where he is," he said.

Political witch-hunt

In a statement read by Mr Ochola Mbeka, a family spokesman, the family termed his arrest as a political witch-hunt. They demanded that the police should tell them about their kin’s offence and reveal to them where they are holding him.

“This is the first incident of arrest or abduction since he started working for Mr Odinga,” Mbeka said as villagers thronged their home and offered prayers for his safe return.

His mother Jane Ogeta, called for the immediate release of her son. “He is the family's breadwinner. He has been a pillar in our family. I do not know what I would do if anything happens to him," she said.