Kenyan Minister Says His Son Was Kidnapped By National Intelligence During Anti-government Protests

JAKARTA - A Kenyan minister said his son's kidnapping during last year's anti-government protests was carried out by the National Intelligence Service. His son was released after President William Ruto intervened privately.

Justin Muturi's alleged Minister of Public Services, which was delivered in an official written statement to the police, was the first direct information showing Ruto knew who was behind the kidnapping of dozens of anti-government activists.

In his statement to the police, Muturi explained his trip to the president's residence on June 23, 2024, to meet Ruto after his son, Leslie, was taken by an armed gangster and face-on.

Muturi said Ruto then called the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIS) Noordin Haji to order the release of his son.

Muturi confirmed to Reuters the authenticity of the statement after it circulated on social media, and said he had been invited by the police to provide information.

In a public statement since June, Ruto expressed concern over allegations made by human rights groups regarding kidnappings by state agents, in which unidentified people have detained people and detained them for days without charges at an undisclosed location.

Ruto said he did not know who might be responsible. However, in his speech on December 31, he acknowledged that there were "overexcessive actions and outside the legal process carried out by members of the security agency".

Silvanus Osoro Onyiego, from the Ruto party, rejected Muturi's accusations. He said Muturi's son was not kidnapped in connection with the protests.

"You have three options," he told Muturi.

"First, step back. Second, apologize, and the third is that we impeach you. You cannot serve the Kenyan government which you criticize every day," he said.