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Finance Bill protests: Doctor Austin Omondi released after kidnapping

Doctor Austin Omondi (C) is pictured with colleagues including KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah following his release after a kidnapping on June 23, 2024. (Photo: X/Davji Atellah)

By Eastleigh Voice Reporter | Sunday, June 23, 2024

Davji Atellah, secretary general of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), announced this via his page on X, pointing the finger at the government.

Doctor Austin Omondi has been released following his kidnapping earlier on Sunday over what unions and members of the public said was his participation in initiatives to support protesters rejecting the Finance Bill, 2024.

Davji Atellah, secretary general of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), announced this via his page on X, pointing the finger at the government.

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Our colleague @ @Dr_AustinOmondi has been released. We condemn in the strongest terms possible the impunity of this government the threats, intimidations and the act of fear mongering can not work. pic.twitter.com/639PrGn3ej
— Davji Bhimji Atellah (@Davji) June 23, 2024

Earlier on Sunday, witnesses said that Omondi, known on X (formerly Twitter) as JaPrado, was taken on Sunday along Forest Road while overseeing a blood donation drive at Sikh Union Club Chandaria, part of the help offered to protesters under the 'Medics for Kenya' initiative. Many claimed he was abducted by police officers.

The KMPDU issued a statement condemning the kidnapping, noting that the doctor was only abiding by his oath. It also accompanied the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and Omondi's family to file a missing person's report at the Parklands Police Station.

The KMPDU had warned that it would shut down all public and private medical services in the push to find the doctor, and had given a midnight deadline.

In issuing the warning, Atellah noted that medical personnel are impartial and dedicated to saving lives, regardless of the side they take in any conflict.

"KMPDU, representing all Kenyan medical doctors with a membership of 10,000 across both the public and private sectors, strongly condemns the abduction of Dr. Austin Omondi (Alias Japrado), allegedly by government agents driving car registration KCU 819H," Atellah said.

"We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Austin Omondi. Should he not be safely returned by midnight, we will initiate the closure of all public and private medical services to locate our colleague."

Heavy-handed actions by the police, to quell the protests, have so far left two people—29-year-old Rex Masai and 21-year-old Evans Kiratu—dead and many others injured, and several well-known activists have been arrested for taking part in or helping to organise the demonstrations.

Rights organisations and leaders have condemned the acts, asking the authorities to exercise restraint during confrontations as the demonstrators are exercising their constitutional rights.

Thus far, anti-Finance Bill protesters, largely Gen Zs and human rights activists, have rejected President William Ruto's offer to engage in dialogue.

Amid the protests and warnings that they will intensify, members of Parliament have advanced the Finance Bill 2024 to the next legislative stage after its second reading, during which 204 voted in favour and 115 opposed it.

The bill moves to the Committee of the Whole House next week, where a detailed review and voting on proposed amendments will occur.