13 days in purgatory: The ordeal of abducted six young men

Families of missing Mlolongo friends overwhelmed during court proceedings on Jan 8, 2025.

It was a collective sigh of relief as millions of Kenyans, and indeed, the world watched with anxiety as the six young men earlier reported abducted started popping up in different parts of the country after being held incommunicado for days.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), an independent constitutional commission, says a total of 82 people had gone missing since June, 2024. The six were the latest to be reported missing, and the public clamouring did not help cool things down.

Days after they went missing and following a huge public outcry and planned demonstrations, the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja issued a statement stating that the constitutional work of the police was to arrest, and not abduct.

“For avoidance of doubt, the National Police Service is not involved in any abduction, and there is no police station in the country that is holding the reported abductees,” read part of a statement Kanja issued.

Demonstrations started bubbling across several cities and towns in the country and with last week’s Monday demonstration dice already rolled, it was a matter of who will blink first. Politicians had taken the temperature a degree higher and when Monday came, the abductees were released much to the fanfare that awaited them.

First it was Billy Mwangi, who had been abducted by four hooded men.

In the early hours of the joyful Monday, he returned to the arms of his parents in Embu. News spread as quick as bushfire and thousands of Embu residents converged for prayers of thanksgiving, seeing their son return home safe. One netizen was quick to provide a light touch to the ordeal, saying Mwangi was like the last born of the Embu people, from the reception he was accorded.

On the fateful day, it was a normal Saturday as he headed to his favourite Kinyozi for a shave, planning to later go back home to watch football with his father.

 “It was around 3pm that Saturday when I left the house to go and get a haircut. Since the following day was Sunday, I would normally go to church without failure and would later catch football action with dad. At the barbershop, there was a queue and while waiting I saw the car which abducted me. I don’t recall anything after they took me,” he told a media outlet.

Still visibly under shock, Mwangi stated he was shaven but he does not recall when that happened.

“I was confused, scared, I really feared for my life and have no clue what happened. I didn’t know that we had crossed to the New Year, leave alone remember Christmas time,” he intimated.

He thanks Kenyans on X for the online campaign whose trending hashtag #EndAbductionsKe, got international media outlets attention, Embu residents, and his parents saying his father had been up and down and even pleaded with the court amidst tears, for his son to be returned to him, while his mother went on her knees to pray for his safe return.

“I found myself in Nyeri and after reading the billboards and matatu routes, I realised where I was, and boarded a matatu to Embu and got home at around 8am. I was afraid and shivering,” he says.

During the two weeks he went missing, he says he had missed his mum’s food. She cooks the best food, he says. The fun moments when he would be watching football with his dad, an avid Arsenal FC supporter, and banter each other. He had missed his brother and playing games with him on the laptop and his girlfriend who had been praying for him. His dog was also missed.  The 24-year old returned on a Monday morning, a sight that left the two parents bewildered.

Mwangi is also grateful to his church, ACK Cathedral, who conducted prayers at his home.

“I used to see on news people being abducted and prayed that it does not happen to me. But it hit home. I would not want any kid or parent to undergo the same ordeal I went through, not even to my enemies,” he states.

His doctor has since advised him to get enough rest.

Cartoonist Gideon Kibet Bull, whose silhouette cartoon memes critical of the President and his henchmen had gone viral over the internet, tweeted that he was alive at 17:31 hours.

That day, he had met with Busia Senator Okiya Omtata in his office and was scheduled to travel to Israel for a student programme.

“When they accosted me, they tore my shirt and used the piece to blindfold me and then bind my hands. We could not abduct ourselves and cause our parents this much pain,” he stated.

He would remain incommunicado as well for the entire period.

Kibet said he was dropped off at Luanda in Vihiga County in the wee hours of Monday morning and opted to seek a temporary aboard as he planned for his journey back home.

“I heard one of them asking another to take out his knife and I thought they were about to kill me. But they cut what was biding my arms. They then unblindfolded me and told me to run and not look back,” he says.

On his X account, Kibet admits he did not realize that they (abductees) had been making headlines and after being released, he logged into X the first thing and posted. All that time, the second born had no idea that his brother had also suffered a similar fate.

“They dropped me in Luanda Vihiga at 3-4AM Leo. Sikuwa najua where to enter or book a room. Kidogo form ya Disco Matanga came in, danced mpaka 6AM when I went to book a ticket,” he posted on X.

His viral post, which has been seen by more than two million eyeballs, prompted naysayers to question if indeed it was him.

 “Abduction is real, all I can urge the government to do is to allow freedom of speech or they use the rule of law to prosecute someone,” he added.

Upon reaching Sangawet village in Kuresoi, an emotional Caroline Mutai embraced her two sons with tears of joy streaming down her face.

His brother Rony was abducted as he was coming from church but unlike his brother, he is not active on social media.

“The only thing I recall is being thrown into a vehicle and being taken where I can’t really recall,” he stated after meeting his parents.

Ronny Kiplangat, abducted in Nairobi, was found in Machakos County, while Kavuli, abducted in Ngong, was discovered in Kitale. Police said Kavuli presented himself to Moi’s Bridge police station in Trans Nzoia, miles away from Ngong in Kajiado County where he went missing.

Activists have vowed to continue the fight, with a number of Kenyans abducted on December 17, in Mlolongo in Machakos, still missing.

They include Steve Mbisi, Paul Karani Muema, Martin Mwau Zyuko and Justus Mutumwa Musyimi.