Evans Kawala, a prominent figure and orator for the Jacaranda ‘Bunge la Mwananchi’ (People’s Parliament), has reportedly been abducted.
The abduction occurred on Tuesday evening, May 26, and has drawn condemnation from youth groups and opposition figures, notably Siaya Governor James Orengo.
In his statement, Orengo accused the government of orchestrating the abduction, describing it as a desperate measure.
The Siaya governor claims Kawala was abducted merely for speaking truth to power.
“Tonight, the Ruto administration turned to desperate measures by abducting Evans ‘Kidero Jasuba’ Kawala, a prominent advocate for the Jacaranda Bunge La Mwananchi, solely for speaking truth to power,” Orengo stated.
He further assured the grassroots movement that a legal team was already working to locate Kawala.
“To the movement: stay firm. We are actively handling this case and will see it through to completion,” he added.
Orengo described the abduction as evidence of the weakness in President William Ruto’s administration, demanding the immediate release of the leader.
“Oppression only exposes a government’s weakness. You can abduct a critic, but you cannot silence the spirit of defiance. We demand his immediate and unconditional release!”
The alleged abduction follows recent comments by Kawala critical of Ruto’s government, including direct criticism of the head of state.
These remarks came during a visit to Kilifi County on Sunday, May 24, when an individual managed to approach him at the presidential dias, compromising his security.
As of publication time, neither the government nor police had released an official statement about the alleged abduction or Kawala’s location, despite growing demands for his unconditional release.
The ‘Bunge La Mwananchi’ is a grassroots social movement that offers ordinary citizens an open forum to discuss political, economic, and social issues affecting their daily lives.
Currently, the movement is engaged in discussions about the Finance Bill 2026, which has generated confusion among the public.