Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Eric Theuri has disclosed that the mother of abducted social media influencer Billy Mwangi is currently hospitalized due to the emotional strain caused by her son’s disappearance.
Mwangi was forcibly taken from a barbershop in Embu on Saturday, December 21.
In a statement, Theuri shared the heart-wrenching details of a conversation with Billy Mwangi’s father, Gerald Mwangi.
According to Theuri, Billy’s father expressed deep anguish and despair, as his wife had been admitted to the hospital following the traumatic incident.
“I spoke with Billy’s father, and the despair in his voice was overwhelming.
He told me that his wife, Billy’s mother, is in the hospital because of the emotional toll this has taken on her.
We are committed to pursuing justice, and I have assured him that we will petition the court for a writ of habeas corpus,” Theuri stated.
Billy Mwangi was abducted in broad daylight by four masked, armed men, who took him from a local barbershop and forced him into a double-cabin pickup truck before speeding off toward the Embu-Nairobi Highway.
Since the incident, Gerald Mwangi has publicly pleaded for government intervention, suspecting that the state may be involved in his son’s disappearance.
“I am asking the government, the very government we supported and campaigned for, to release my son.
If he has done something wrong, I will discipline him myself, but he should not be treated like this,” Gerald Mwangi said in an emotional interview.
It is speculated that Billy’s abduction may be linked to a social media post that some considered controversial, with reports suggesting that it may have angered some in the Kenya Kwanza administration.
The increasing number of abductions of social media influencers critical of the government has raised alarm, with figures like Kibet Bull, Benard Kavuli, and Peter Muteti also reported missing under similar circumstances.
The abductions have sparked outrage across the country, with political leaders, religious figures, civil society groups, and the judiciary voicing condemnation.
The Judiciary, in a statement, emphasized that abductions have no place in a constitutional democracy and are a direct violation of citizens’ rights.
“The Judiciary has noted the resurgence of abductions, which pose a serious threat to the constitutional rights of citizens.
We urge security agencies to uphold the rule of law and ensure the protection of fundamental freedoms,” the statement read.
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has called for the immediate release of Kibet Bull, who was last seen meeting with him before disappearing.
Omtatah expressed his belief that Kibet Bull is being detained by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and demanded the release of other missing individuals.
Prominent lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi also condemned the abductions, labeling them as “unacceptable.”
“These actions, where innocent Kenyans are abducted off the streets, are a gross violation of human rights,” he said.
However, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has denied any involvement by police forces in the abductions, maintaining that the National Police Service is not responsible for the recent wave of disappearances.
As the search for the missing continues, the public outcry for justice grows, with many calling for an immediate investigation into the actions of those responsible for these abductions.
KNCHR Raises Alarm Over Rising Abductions, With 26 Missing Since June
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