Kitengela Three freed after 30 days' ordeal in captivity

The three men, including two brothers abducted in Kitengela, Kajiado County have been found alive, and released. 

Frail, frightened and in shock. This was the state of activist Bob Njagi and two brothers, Aslam and Jamil Longton, after they were released by their captors, exactly one month after they were abducted in Kitengela, Kajiado County.

The Kitengela Three were freed on Friday morning, one month after they were separately picked in Kitengela, by persons they described as policemen.

The Longton brothers were freed around Gachie, where they walked to nearby homes to charge their phones, which they used to call relatives while Njagi was freed at around 1am, and walked to Tigoni police station to record a statement.

Their release came on the heat of contempt charges hanging over the head of Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police, Gilbert Masengeli, who was facing six months in jail.

The three were released as Masengeli prepared for a court date that would have firmed his sentencing. The release also came just a day after President William Ruto installed the new Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, who denied that police were holding the three.

By Friday evening, specific details remained scanty on where they were held for 30 days, but sources told The Saturday Standard that their abductors kept moving them from one place to the other, blindfolded.

The sources said that captors were interested in knowing who was sponsoring them to spearhead anti-government demos in Kitengela.

“They kept asking them, Who is sponsoring you in these protests?" said a source.

However, it emerged that the fact that the brothers stayed together all through and never at one moment met or interacted with Njagi, has turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

After they were dumped in Gachie with a dead phone, they managed to find their way to a home in the area where they charged it and called their family at home.

Thanked Kenyans

In a video shared on X by Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo, the two brothers thanked Kenyans for their advocacy, which they believe is what kept them alive.

“We thank Kenyans for standing with us. We were dumped in the bush in Gachie and had to seek refuge at a home where we charged our mobile phone and reached out to our families,” the two brothers said in the video.

They said that they would give more information through Odhiambo.

Jamil and Aslam were picked up and taken to a hospital in Westlands before being moved to a hospital in Nairobi West where they underwent check-ups and were discharged.

For Njagi, the leader of the Free Kenya Movement, the last 30 days he spent in the hands of his captors were a nightmare.

Upon his release, Njagi called his lawyer, Mbugua Mureithi, to tell him he had been freed and was at a police station in Thogoto recording a statement.

Of the three, he seems to be the most affected by the ordeal.

“To family, friends, and every Kenyan who has continued to pray for me, I wish to confirm that I am well and with my family. It is now time to quiet the noise, be grateful for life, and for everyone to reflect on why Kenya matters,” said Njagi through Odhiambo's X account.

After he was freed, he was taken for a check-up and The Saturday Standard understands he was discharged and later re-admitted after exhibiting signs of being mentally disturbed.

“We are back to Agha Khan Hospital, we cannot get back home at the moment, Bob is not in good condition he needs more check-ups,” said a family member.

The families said that they had been instructed not to give media interviews by LSK.

Emotional reunion

Njagi was removed from a Kitengela-bound matatu in Mlolongo by people who introduced themselves as police officers, bundled them in another car then sped off on August 19.

The activist was on his way home after spending time at the Kamukunji Police Station in solidarity with Safina Party leader Jimmy Wanjigi.

At the station, he texted his lawyer Mbugua Mureithi that he suspected the “Subaru boys” were after him.

Little did he know that his suspicion was right and not long after he would become part of the now-famous Kitengela Three.

A few kilometres away, Jamil and Aslam faced the same fate, but they did not know what had happened to them also happened to their friend.

The joy and an emotional reunion brought back smiles to their families, that had endured days of sorrow and stress.

The Longton family said their joy is palpable as the two brothers were their breadwinners.

“Their return has lifted us from the cloud of uncertainty, and provided hope and relief to our family,” said Razak Longton, their brother.

In the Kitengela neighbourhood, residents expressed their joy after word went around that the trio were found alive.

“This is a miracle to the people of Kitengela and the country, we almost lost hope of getting them back alive, but we thank God the Almighty who protected them from harm,” said Benjamin Sakwa, one of their neighbors.

LSK Vice President Mwaura Kabata praised Justice Lawrence Mugambi for standing firm on the importance of obeying court orders.

He noted that their petition is still in court awaiting allocation of a bench to hear it after Justice Mugambi recused himself.

“We have to emphasise that we need a better Kenya, one that works for all of us,” said Kabata.

Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo said police need to tell Kenyans who are the people behind the abductions.

“We want to challenge the police and the new Inspector General of Police that there are many other Kenyans who are missing,” said Maanzo.

He called on IG Kanja to ensure that police act within the law saying there were people killed during the demonstrations and their bodies booked as accidents victims while others are still nursing injuries.

“We want to ask Kenyans who may have any information about where these three people were to approach LSK so that we can get concrete evidence for the petition.”

LSK lawyer Manwa Hosea said that the lobby intends to amend the petition to include all other Kenyans who have been missing.

“We raise concerns about DIG Masengeli choosing to come to court today and the people we have been fighting for being freed today.”

Freedom at Last: Kitengela Three Rescued After Month-Long Ordeal"