Kibet Bull, Mbisi still missing as abducted youth resurface
Four of the youth abducted last month resurfaced today even as the whereabouts of two others remained unclear.
Peter Muteti, Billy Mwangi, Ronny Kiplangat and Bernard Kavuli were dumped by their abductors in Nairobi, E the country hours before activists took to the streets to demonstrated against enforced disappearances in the country in recent months.
Pressure has been mounting on President William Ruto and his administration to end the rising cases of abductions that started with the Gen Z protests in June.
However, despite the pressure, Ronny’s brother cartoonist Gideon Kibet, alias Kibet Bull, and Steve Mbisi are yet to be released amid concerns over whether they are still alive.
By the time of publishing this story, Mwangi and Muteti had already been received by their families.
Photos posted on social media show Mwangi being hugged by his mother and welcomed by other family members upon arrival.
“He is now reunited with his parents at their home in Majengo, Embu town,” a Facebook post by Embu Newspaper stated.
“Hey Larry, Peter has been released. He is currently with family. He is quite disoriented and not able to talk and give interviews at the moment,” a family member told CNN international correspondent Larry Madowo.
Witnesses said that Mwangi was forcefully taken out of a barber shop where he had gone to get a haircut.
His abduction sparked demonstrations in Embu with the residents requesting to know his whereabouts and release by the abductors.
Muteti, who was abducted in the Uthiru area of Nairobi on December 21 by four armed men who bundled him into a Toyota Prado, was found in the Nairobi CBD in a state of confusion.
The 24-year-old was picked up by his family and is recuperating at home.
A family member who confirmed the release of Muteti said the 24-year-old is quite disoriented.
Reports indicate that they were threatened not to speak with the media or reveal anything regarding their abduction.
According to the relative of Mwangi, who confided in a local media outlet, they were threatened with re-abduction if they spoke about their ordeal or continued with their activism.
Their release, however, brought to an end the lengthy hunt in which the National Police Service distanced itself from the kidnappings.
The release of the four coincides with protests in Nairobi and other towns where demonstrators had vowed to block the major roads to demand their release.
The key routes including Thika Super Highway, Mombasa Road, and Uhuru Highway were the targets in the first major protest of 2025 coinciding with the reopening of schools.
President William Ruto has repeatedly assured Kenyans that his administration would bring to an end the rising cases of abductions.
He said the government is committed to ensuring the security of its citizens, particularly the youth guaranteeing their security.’
He, however, appealed for discipline and respect from the youth while Kenyans have insisted on holding the government accountable for the missing individuals.
