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The release of cartoonist Gideon Kibet, popularly known as Kibet Bull, and five other young men who were abducted in December 2024 has raised more questions than answers.
Their abductions, widely believed to involve security agents, and subsequent coordinated release have left the nation demanding accountability and transparency.
Coordinated Drop-Offs Across the Country
The six men were released in a manner that suggests a carefully planned operation. Each was dropped off in separate locations across the country:
Kibet Bull said he was dropped off in Luanda, Vihiga County at about 3:00 am.
Bernard Kavuli Musyimi who was abducted by armed men in Ngong Town, was found in Kitale, Trans Nzoia county.
Billy Wanyiri Mwangi was abandoned near Nyeri Town, Peter Muteti appeared in Nairobi CBD while Rony Kiplagat was dropped in Machakos.
These drop-offs, though celebrated by families, have only deepened the mystery surrounding their initial disappearance and detention.
ODPP Deadline Ignored
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) had earlier given the Inspector General of Police and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) a three-day deadline to provide more information on the abductions.
This deadline lapsed on January 1, 2025, without any updates from either institution. The IG had categorically denied any involvement of police officers in the abductions, further muddying the waters.
Police Statement Raises More Questions
Following their release, the National Police Service issued a statement acknowledging the return of the missing individuals.
The statement, however, offered no clarity on who was responsible for their abduction, where they were held, and the conditions of their confinement.
Instead, it reiterated that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) was committed to resolving cases of missing persons.
The police also assured the public that officers would reach out to the victims and their families and give them all the necessary support to assist ongoing investigations.
Imposters Tweeting Under Their Names?
A post from CNN correspondent Larry Madowo who has been covering the abductions has added another layer to the controversy.
Madowo alleged that Rony Kiplagat is not the one tweeting under his name on X and that Billy Mwangi’s phone and SIM card had been taken, with imposters now posting on his behalf.
This revelation raises serious concerns about potential attempts to manipulate public perception and control the narrative around the abductees’ ordeal.
Before their abductions, all six men were vocal critics of President William Ruto’s administration, using social media and other platforms to express their views.
Their sudden disappearance was widely condemned, with human rights groups and organisations such as the East African Cartoonists’ Society (KATUNI) describing the actions as "barbaric, retrogressive, and unlawful."
As the men recover from their ordeal, the public is left grappling with numerous unanswered questions about who orchestrated their abductions, where they were held, and in what conditions, the coordinated release and a lack of detailed accounts from the victims themselves.