KENYA : Cartoonist Gideon Kibet alias Bull is free after more than two weeks in the hands of Abductors.
Kibet, went missing on Christmas eve, December 24, 2024, after he was allegedly abducted shortly after holding a meeting with Busia Senator Okiyah Omtatah in Nairobi.
The young social media activist, in an update on his X (formerly Twitter) account, revealed that he was dropped in Luanda, Vihiga County, on the wee hours of Monday, January 6, 2024, around 3 am.
According to bull, he had no idea where to go or book a room, however a Disco Matanga party came to his rescue. Kibet revealed he danced until it was daylight when he booked a bus ticket to head back home.
" They dropped me in Luanda Vihiga at 3-4 am Leo. Sikuwa najua where to enter or book a room. Kidogo, form ya disco matanga came through, danced mpaka 6Am when I went to book a ticket." Kibet Posted on X.
The 23-year-old erupted to fame with his silhouette depictions likened to President William Ruto.
He was using his art as a form of anti-government activism, perhaps touching the raw nerves of the abductors believed to be state operatives and who monitored his movements.
His mother, Carol Mutai, said she was not aware of her son's activities on social media.
Seeming to absolve him, the distraught mother of 10 said her son might have erred due to inexperience and excitement experienced in childhood.
"He was a young boy, a 23-year-old. He might never have known what he was doing. I don't know what he wrote or did on social media," she said.
She revealed that Kibet was to join his peers from Egerton University for an educational trip to Israel, where he had been listed among the students in an exchange programme.
Meanwhile, Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, Bernad Kavuli and Rony Kiplangat were also released today
Mwangi and Muteti had met their families physically while the others reached out to them. Mwangi, is currently at their Majengo home, Embu town with his parents.
Similarly, Peter Muteti who was abducted on December 21 at his apartment outside Nairobi has been released. His family has confirmed that they are currently with him although he is quite disoriented and not able to talk and give interviews.
Kavuli was found in Kitale while Rony Kiplangat was found in Machakos County. Rony is Kibet's brother.
Meanwhile, The National Police Service (NPS) has issued a statement on the young Kenyans who were abducted in December 2024.
The NPS issued the statement hours after four of the abductees resurfaced with scanty information about their tormentors.
“Following the recent reported cases of suspected abductions of persons in the country, the National Police Service wishes to update the public on four cases reported in December 2024,” read the statement in part.
It went on to state that one of the abductees Bernard Kavuli Musyimi, who reunited with his family on January 6, 2025, will be assisting the police with investigations.
“Bernard Kavuli Musyimi who was reported missing at Ngong’ Police Station presented himself at Moi’s Bridge Police Station today and is assisting the investigators with further information,” read another part of the statement.
NPS also stated that it has learned from media reports of the resurfacing of three other abductees and has gone on to state that police officers will reach out to their families for support as well as information for further investigations.
“Following media reports that Billy Wanyiri Mwangi, Peter Muteti, and Rony Kiplagat who were reported missing in Embu Police Station, Kabete Police Station, and Thogoto Police Post respectively have reunited with their respective families, we wish to assure the public that our officer will reach out to them and their families and give them all the necessary support as we seek further information to assist ongoing investigations,” added the statement.
The service notified members of the public that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is investigating all cases of missing persons in the country with most of the cases currently pending before court and others under active investigations.
It also urged members of the public to assist in investigations as well as information on the whereabouts of the missing persons.
“We therefore wish to appeal to members of the public to collaborate with us, by providing any information that may aid in investigations or tracing their whereabouts. All information is helpful and can be reported to the nearest police station or our toll-free lines 999, 911, 112 or FichuakwaDCI 0800722203,” said the NPS.
The NPS ended by stating that it remains committed to ensuring that all the matters pertaining abductions are thoroughly investigated to their logical conclusions.
