Family seeks Ruto help after son's mysterious abduction

Mr and Mrs Gerald Mwangi at their Embu home. They are parents of abducted college student Billy Wanyiri. [Muriithi Mugo, Standard]

In Majengo estate, Embu town, Gerald Mwangi, a retired civil servant, and his wife, Regina Wairimu sit solemnly outside their home, desperately trying to make sense of their son’s disappearance.

Two days ago, their 24-year-old son, Billy Wanyiri, went missing while waiting for a shave at Big Nation Barber Shop, located about 700 metres from their home. 

With tears in their eyes, the couple made a heartfelt appeal to President William Ruto to intervene in what they believe is a targeted action by security agents against their son, possibly for sharing sensitive online content.

According to Mwangi, Wanyiri, a university student, was abducted by hooded men who forced him into a waiting double-cabin vehicle, which sped off towards Nairobi. 

“I was told by the barber that four men, armed and well-built, took my son and bundled him into a waiting double-cabin,” Mwangi recounted.

He further emphasized that his son is a well-behaved young man but may have unknowingly shared content that angered the authorities. “If the government is holding him, I ask for his release. As a disciplinarian, I will address any wrongdoing,” he added, expressing concern for his son’s health, as Wanyiri was unwell and lacked a jacket when he left home for the barber. 

Mwangi revealed that he had been trying to locate Wanyiri, who was supposed to watch a football match that evening, but his calls went unanswered. By 7 pm, his son still had not returned home, and so he began his search at Embu police station, hospitals, and eventually filed a missing person report with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). 

Heartbroken and traumatized

Regina Wairimu, Wanyiri's mother, broke down as she made the appeal to the president, asking for her son’s safe return.

"We supported this government wholeheartedly, and now my son has disappeared. I’m heartbroken and traumatized by what has happened to him," she said, sobbing.

She urged security agents to adopt less forceful methods when dealing with youths and instead focus on guiding and mentoring them. 

At the Big Nation Barber Shop, where the abduction occurred, staff remained tight-lipped, likely due to fear of repercussions, unwilling to speak to journalists.

Embu County Police Commander Samuel Muthamia confirmed that law enforcement officers are actively investigating the matter, using all available resources to track down the missing young man.

"It is unfortunate that the eyewitnesses could not provide the number plates of the vehicle, but we are doing everything we can to find him," Muthamia said.

Wanyiri’s friends have expressed their disappointment and concern over his disappearance. His girlfriend, 22-year-old Lorna Mwende, was deeply shaken by the incident.

“We were together at Maguna Dallas supermarket around 3 p.m. and were supposed to meet later," she said. "But two hours later, he became unreachable and did not respond to messages, which was unusual for him. When his father called to ask if we were together, I became even more scared,” she recalled.

Mwende describes Wanyiri as a social and friendly person, who has no known enemies, and appealed to the government for help in locating him. She also revealed that he is a content creator, frequently posting on social media, which may have contributed to the circumstances of his disappearance.

Kevin Ndwiga, 27, a close friend of Wanyiri, expressed shock and devastation over the disappearance.

“Wanyiri is a simple person who has never had a quarrel with anyone. He gets along with everyone he meets,” Ndwiga said. “I urge the security agencies to step up their efforts and use every available resource to find him.”

The family remains hopeful that the authorities will act swiftly, and their emotional appeal highlights the deep anxiety and fear surrounding the disappearance of a beloved son.