When Frederick Obuya left Kenya for Tanzania, he was filled with excitement. As a lawyer and owner of a tour company, he wanted to explore business opportunities in Zanzibar and celebrate his birthday at the same time.
What he never expected was that his journey would turn into a terrifying experience that would stay with him for life. Arrested on October 29, Obuya found himself trapped in a nightmare that lasted ten long days.Obuya and his companion, John Nderitu, were taken into custody under unclear circumstances.
At first, they were assured that it was a small issue that would be resolved quickly. However, those words soon turned into false promises.
A police officer later told Obuya that their case was complicated and could take two weeks to resolve. It was then that the reality sank in they were not going home anytime soon. Overwhelmed by fear and confusion, Obuya broke down in tears, realizing that his freedom was no longer guaranteed.
Their situation worsened when they were transferred to Oyster Bay Police Station. The conditions there were shocking and unbearable. The cell they were kept in was filthy and overcrowded. The toilet smelled terribly because there was no running water. The floor was sticky, and bedbugs filled the mattresses.
To make matters worse, Obuya was held alongside minors as young as thirteen. The experience broke his spirit. He later admitted that he could not have survived another night under those conditions.
Every day in detention brought new waves of fear. Obuya and Nderitu did not know what their fate would be. Rumors spread among the detainees, and uncertainty made it difficult to sleep.
As days passed, their only hope came from growing attention on social media, where Kenyans began to demand their release. When they were told that they would be taken to the immigration office after ten nights, both men felt mixed emotions relief and terror. Obuya confessed that he would rather face death than be returned to that cell.
Their nightmare finally began to end when they met the Kenyan High Commissioner in Tanzania. Through diplomatic efforts, they were moved from detention to a hotel under official protection.
Soon after, they were flown back to Kenya on November 8. Although Tanzanian authorities allowed them to stay longer, the two men wanted nothing more than to return home.
The fear of being rearrested or facing the same torture again was too much to bear.
The arrests took place during a tense period in Tanzania, following elections where President Samia Suluhu won with more than 97 percent of the vote. The victory led to protests and a wave of arrests across the country. For Obuya and Nderitu, what was supposed to be a simple trip had turned into a horrifying experience that showed how quickly freedom can disappear.
Even though they are now safe in Kenya, the trauma of those ten days will likely stay with them forever.
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