Citizen TV reporter Francis Ode has been released after he was allegedly abducted and taken to Central Police Station in Nairobi while covering protests against rising fuel prices on Tuesday 20th October 2026.
Ode said he was in town to cover a press conference linked to demonstrations over the increase in oil prices when chaos broke out, with people suddenly running in different directions.
He recounted that a man dressed in full police uniform approached him and arrested him alongside four other people before they were bundled into a Land Cruiser and driven to Central Police Station.
The journalist alleged that he and the others were harassed while at the station, claiming his clothes were torn and his fingers were squeezed, leaving him in severe pain.
His release came after fellow Citizen TV reporters followed him to the station and pushed for his safe release.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about the treatment of journalists while covering public demonstrations, where reporters often find themselves caught up in confrontations between protesters and security officers.
Ode also described the fear he experienced while being held at the station, linking it to the death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody in June 2025.
The reporter said he was particularly frightened because he was being held in the same cell where Ojwang had been detained before his death. Ode had previously covered the story surrounding Ojwang’s death, making the experience especially distressing for him.
Ojwang’s death in police custody sparked public outrage and renewed calls for accountability over allegations of police brutality and mistreatment of detainees.
For Ode, the memory of the case added to the anxiety of being held in custody, particularly as he said he had gone to town in his capacity as a journalist to cover a public event.
The circumstances surrounding Ode’s arrest, the alleged harassment at the station and the identity of the officer involved had not been independently established at the time of publication.
The incident comes amid heightened public attention on demonstrations over the cost of living, including concerns about rising fuel prices and their effect on transport and the prices of essential goods.
Ode’s release followed the intervention of his colleagues, who went to Central Police Station and ensured he was released. He was, however, reportedly left in significant pain following the alleged mistreatment.
Further details on whether a formal complaint has been lodged or whether police have issued a statement were not immediately available.
