Embu police warn against protests over abducted student

The Embu County security team has warned residents against planned demonstrations over the abduction of college student Billy Munyiri Mwangi.

County police commander Samuel Muthamia said on Sunday that residents were disturbing the peace and urged them to desist from unlawful activities.

Briefing journalists in Embu, he said they were working round the clock to trace the student and asked residents to be patient.

"We have been looking for Mwangi since he went missing and you should give us time," said the police boss.

He said preliminary investigations revealed that Mr Mwangi's phone was switched off immediately he was taken away, just 400 metres from where he was abducted.

The motive for the abduction has not yet been established.

On Friday, angry residents took to the streets to protest the abduction, causing tension in Embu town and its environs.

Business came to a standstill as traders closed their shops for fear of looting.

"We understand that there are more planned demonstrations. We ask residents to be calm and give us enough time to look for Mwangi," said Mr Muthamia.

Mr Mwangi, who lives in Nairobi, was home on holiday when he was abducted. On December 21, the 24-year-old was waiting to be shaved at a barber shop in Embu town when a white double-cab pick-up pulled up.

Four hooded men, suspected to be government security agents, got out, grabbed the unsuspecting Mwangi and dragged him towards the car, much to the astonishment of onlookers.

When he asked why he was being arrested, the men reportedly replied “you will know later”, bundled him into the car and drove off at high speed.

According to the family, their son is innocent and they cannot understand why he has been abducted and is currently being held incommunicado.

His mother, Ms Regina Wairimu, said she was at home when she received information from the barber that her son had been seized and taken to an unknown location.

“We are still in shock following what happened to our son. If it is the government which is responsible, I want my son back home alive. And if he has done anything wrong I’m ready to apologise on his behalf,” said Ms Wairimu as she sobbed.

Gerald Karicha, the father, said he was still in agony.

“I’m in pain and shock following the abduction of my son,” he said, adding that he called Mwangi at about 3pm on the day in question after he failed to return home.

“I wanted to watch soccer with my son,” said Mr Karicha, who described his son as highly disciplined and wondered why he was abducted.

“I campaigned for this government and it was elected. If it is the government holding my son, then it should release him,” he added.

Mwangi is one of dozens of government critics and human rights defenders who have been abducted by suspected state agents.

Kenya National Commission on Human Rights says "unidentified armed individuals" have abducted at least 82 people since anti-government protests in June, with 29 still missing.

It came as President William Ruto was urged to take full responsibility for the rising number of abductions in the country, which have targeted young government critics.

Catholic priest Ambrose Kimutai said Mr Raila Odinga and former president Uhuru Kenyatta could not absolve themselves of the incidents because of their support for the broad-based government.

Fr Kimutai, of Ndarawetta Catholic parish in Bomet County, said the abductions were worrying because Dr Ruto had assured the nation that arbitrary arrests and abductions by security officers would end.

“The broad based government is not addressing the needs of the nation as Dr Ruto, Mr Kenyatta and Mr Odinga are all in government to protect their wealth and personal political interests. The ordinary folks in the country are suffering in silence,” Fr Kimutai said.

He said the Gen Zs were in for a shock as the political dynasties in the country would continue to rule over them and were not ready to address their key issues.

“There is no way Dr Ruto, Uhuru and Odinga can exonerate themselves from the kidnapping being witnessed in the country. They are all responsible for it,” the cleric said.

He said the police should produce the abducted youths.

“In the tail end of the Kanu regime, the government of former president Daniel Moi held critics at Nyayo House torture chambers and police stations for months in a bid to silence them. The same scenario, though without torture chambers, is playing out in the current government and it is unfortunately getting worse by the day,” Fr Kimutai said.

The cleric said it was time for the President to come to terms with the harsh realities on the ground about his government and the suffering that ordinary people have been subjected to in the last two years since he came to power.

The cleric said it was time the President acquainted himself with the harsh realities on the ground about his administration and the suffering the ordinary people have been subjected to in the last two years since he ascended to power.

“Kenyans rallied behind Dr Ruto in the last general election on the strength of the promises he gave Kenyans, to fix the economy, end multi-level taxation, address challenges in the health, education, agriculture and infrastructure sectors, and end extra-judicial killings and arbitrary arrests,” Fr Kimutai said.

The majority of Kenyans are now disappointed that the President seems to have reneged on almost all of his pre-election promises and has embraced dynasties.

“In Bomet County, two young men – Elvis Kevin Langat and Dominic Kipngeno Langat – are still missing. Their families are worried about their health and safety,” added Fr Kimutai.

He said masked security agents were suspected to have abducted the two young men and bundled them into a waiting unmarked Subaru car near Lari in Kiambu County.

The youths, from Chepalungu in Bomet County, were allegedly abducted on December 5, 2024 and a vehicle they had hired was found abandoned in the Lari area with three of its tyres deflated.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has recently spoken out against the abductions, blaming President Ruto.