Kenyan Families Rejoice As Four Abducted Youths Freed After Weeks In Captivity

       By Lisbeth Micheni, Kenya 

Four young men who were reported missing after being abducted in December, have been safely reunited with their families, bringing relief after weeks of anxiety and fear.

Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, Bernard Kavuli, and Rony Kiplangat were released under unclear circumstances, their families confirmed on Monday.

Mwangi, who vanished on December 21 near a barber shop in Embu town, returned home to Majengo, Embu, after more than two weeks in captivity.

His family immediately took him to a medical facility for evaluation. Mwangi’s mother, who had been hospitalised due to distress, is also back home.

Meanwhile, Muteti, who disappeared outside his Nairobi apartment on the same day, was found disoriented and unable to discuss his experience.

His relatives confirmed that he is under their care as he recovers.

The two other victims, Kavuli and Kiplangat, were reportedly dropped off in Nyeri alongside several other individuals.

Each of them was allegedly handed Sh2,000 and warned against revealing details of their ordeal.

A relative of Mwangi disclosed that the abductees had received threats of further abductions should they speak publicly about their experiences or continue their activism.

The release comes amid mounting pressure from human rights activists and the public, who had planned mass demonstrations to demand the release of missing persons.

Key roads in Nairobi and other cities were set to be blocked as part of the protests, coinciding with schools reopening.

Despite the release of the four men, the whereabouts of others, including Gideon Kibet, Steve Kivango, and Kelvin Muthoni, remain unknown.

The wave of disappearances has drawn criticism both locally and internationally, with calls for President William Ruto’s administration to address the rising cases of enforced disappearances.

Protests demanding accountability continue as families of those still missing urge authorities to intensify efforts to locate their loved ones.