Police rescue former AG’s daughter

By Cyrus Ombati

Quick action by police saved a daughter of former Attorney General James Karugu who had been kidnapped in a dramatic attack outside her residence.

Ms Rose Karugu, 38, was driving home in Ridgeways, Nairobi, on Saturday night when four kidnappers struck.

They ordered her at gunpoint to give them a contact they would call to demand a ransom as the drove around the city.

Police said she gave the abductors a contact whom they called and demanded a Sh1 million ransom.

The kin contacted police who immediately tracked Rose to an isolated house in Kahawa West, Nairobi, using their newly acquired technology and rescued her.

Gang escaped

Police also recovered the woman’s car. However, the gang had escaped by the time police arrived at the house.

Police asked anyone whose relative had been kidnapped to report to them immediately.

Deputy Police Spokesman Charles Owino said co-operation of the relatives was key to successful rescue of abductees.

"We have solved all cases that were reported to us. We encourage victims to always report to us such cases without fear and in time," he said.

Last week, police rescued a son of a senior bank manager, but after the family had parted with Sh3 million in ransom.

Cases of kidnapping have reduced by 16 per cent in the past four months compared to the same period last year, police statistics show.

Between January and April, 26 cases of kidnappings were reported to the police as compared to 31 in the same period last year.