Residents and business leaders in Embu have taken to the streets in support of Billy Mwangi’s family. The 24-year-old was reportedly kidnapped on December 21st by individuals thought to be the DCI.
The action follows the Embu family’s public demand for the return of their kidnapped son, Billy Mwangi, who was accused of sending President William Ruto an inflammatory AI-generated image on Saturday afternoon.
According to Mwangi’s relatives, four armed men wearing masks forcefully removed him from a barbershop in a double-cabin truck before rushing off in the direction of the Embu-Nairobi Highway.
The event has caused dread among locals who saw the drama play out in broad daylight, as well as among family members who learnt about it via a witness.
“Kinyozi Aliniambia kijana yako alikuwa hapa anangojea turn yake ya kunyolewa; ikakuja ikasimama, wakaendea kijana wakamchukua juu juu akawauliza ni nini nimefanya; wakasema, Wewe kijana, twende utajulia mbele. Walikuwa wameva mask; hakuna mtu alipiga picha; watu walikuwa scared,” Gerald Mwangi, Billy’s father, told Citizen TV.
The family has been searching the whole county since Saturday without finding anything. They claim to still be in the dark about the circumstances surrounding his kidnapping, with rumours suggesting that he may have been targeted because of a post he made on X that included an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated image that negatively portrayed President Ruto.
“Mimi nataka kuomba in the event that it is the government that abducted this boy over this social media thrash. Mimi, naomba serikali yetu, hii serikali, tulifanyia kampeni mpaka ikashinda. Mimi, naomba Ruto, kama ni wewe, uko na huyo kijana; naomba aachiliwe; hata mimi anajua ni disciplinary. I will discipline him,” the young man’s father said.
“Kama watoto wanakosea, waache kutumia ile force kubwa kutumana bouncer wanne wamejiweka masks hata hao watoto watakuwa traumatised. Guide hawa watoto na njia ya uzazi; najua pia nyinyi ni wazazi,” Regina Wairimu, Mwangi’s mother, added.
Detectives in the region have started their investigations, according to Embu Police Commander Samuel Muthamia, who acknowledged receiving information about the purported kidnapping but denied local police officials were involved.
However, since Mwangi’s phone was turned off minutes after his kidnapping, Muthamia has voiced fears about finding him.
The bad news is that nobody stole the double cabin’s license plate, and his phone was turned off as soon as he was removed. We’re attempting to track him down… We have used every available tool to determine his possible whereabouts,” Muthamia said.
Days have passed since another kidnapping incident in Nairobi’s Uthiru neighbourhood. Four armed guys abducted Peter Muteti, a social media influencer who shared another AI-generated image on X, from a nearby store.
Three days later, Muteti’s family has failed to locate the 22-year-old. The Kabete Police Station is investigating the situation.
Leaders of Kirinyaga, such as Senator James Murango and Member of Parliament Jane Njeri, have denounced the new kidnapping incidents and are calling on the government to disclose the truth.
With 26 young people still unaccounted for after the anti-government demonstrations in June and August, the most recent incidents have sparked worries about the spectres of kidnappings.
