Nairobi woman charged with abducting 67-year-old father, forcing psychiatric admission

A woman has been charged with abducting her 67-year-old father from his compound in Nairobi, allegedly with the help of three men posing as medical doctors, before taking him to a psychiatric hospital against his will.

Nduta Wangui appeared before Makadara Chief Magistrate Kennedy Bidali, accused of unlawfully abducting and wrongfully confining her father, Samwel Wangai Mugo, on November 4 at Thome Estate in Marurui Sub-location, Roysambu Sub-county.

Wangui denied the charges and was released on a bond of Sh100,000 or an alternative cash bail of Sh30,000.

According to the charge sheet, Mugo had returned home from his business at around 6:30pm and was relaxing while watching television when a vehicle was spotted parked nearby by the family's watchman. Moments later, three men alighted from the car and introduced themselves as doctors who had come to collect Mugo for further medical evaluation.

Wangui, who was inside the house, allegedly confirmed their identity and urged her father to accompany them, claiming he needed to see a psychiatrist as he had recently been behaving abnormally. She further accused him of allowing his ailing wife to travel despite her poor health.

The elderly man reportedly resisted, saying he felt ambushed and that his lawyer was unaware of the matter. He also said he did not recognise the three men.

Despite his protests, the men allegedly bundled him into the waiting car, forcing him into the back seat between two of them as his daughter took the front passenger seat. The watchman attempted to intervene but was overpowered.

Relatives were informed of the incident and later confronted Wangui, who allegedly admitted to taking her father to Chiromo Lane Medical Centre for psychiatric evaluation, claiming concern for his wellbeing.

At the hospital, Mugo protested his admission, saying his daughter and one of the men signed documents he believed were consent forms for his confinement. He was restrained from moving around and shown to a ward occupied by patients with apparent mental health challenges.

His ordeal ended when relatives arrived at the hospital demanding his release. The facility initially declined, stating that only Wangui could authorise his discharge. However, one of the relatives reportedly convinced staff that Mugo was of sound mind, after which he was freed.

That night, Mugo reported the incident at Marurui Police Station, leading to his daughter's arrest.

Through her lawyer, Vienna Mongare, Wangui applied to be released on the same terms as her police bond, arguing she was a mother of four and not a flight risk, as she had investments and had presented herself in court.