How 5 youth were abducted, held for 2 weeks for criticising Ruto, his allies

The shocking death of blogger-turned-teacher Albert Ojwang has rekindled memories of similar incidents in the recent past.

In December last year, five young men were abducted for allegedly posting and sharing content deemed disparaging to President William Ruto. They were held incommunicado for several days before being released following public outcry.

The victims were Billy Mwangi, Ronny Kiplangat, his brother and cartoonist Gideon Kibet Bull, Peter Muteti and Bernard Kavuli.

From emotional court appearances to the agonizing search for their loved ones, the families endured a festive season marked not by celebration, but by anxiety, prayers and the desperate hope for their safe return.

However, after a prolonged search, the abductees resurfaced in different parts of the country, later recounting harrowing experiences at the hands of their captors.

Mwangi, a college student and blogger, was reportedly abducted by four hooded men at a barbershop in Embu town on December 21, 2024.

He was released 15 days later. Upon returning home, he appeared visibly distressed and was taken to hospital for a medical check-up.

On the fateful day, Mwangi said he had gone to a nearby barbershop, planning to return home afterward to watch football with his father.

Meanwhile, Kavuli was found abandoned in Kitale, and police officers facilitated his return following his abduction on December 22.

Kiplangat, who went missing in late December 2024, was also found. He had been abducted from the compound of Kikuyu SDA Church by individuals in a Probox and later located in Machakos. He was unable to speak about his 10-day ordeal.

His brother, Kibet Bull, was dumped in Luanda. Kibet, known for creating viral silhouette cartoon memes critical of the President and his allies, had been active online.

On the day of his abduction, Kibet had visited Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah in his office and was scheduled to travel to Israel for a student programme.

He later said his abductors dropped him off in Luanda, Vihiga County, in the early morning hours. He sought temporary shelter as he made plans to return home. “I heard one of them tell the other to take out his knife, and I thought they were about to kill me,” he recalled. “But instead, they cut the ropes binding my arms, removed the blindfold, and told me to run—and not look back.”

Similarly, 22-year-old Muteti, who was abducted in Uthiru on December 21, was later found alive in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) and reunited with his family.

Even former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi was not spared, as abductors targeted his son, Leslie Muturi.

According to the CS, it took the intervention of President  Ruto to secure Leslie’s release after National Intelligence Service boss Noordin Haji allegedly ignored his calls—as well as those of then Interior CS Kithure Kindiki, who now serves as Deputy President.

Muturi, who was the Attorney General at the time, said Leslie was abducted around 9:30pm on June 22, 2024, while en route to a party in Lavington. He was in the company of Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenye and his driver, Marangu Imanyara, when hooded gunmen seized him from his vehicle.