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Tongues are now wagging over the appearance of billionaire Jaswant Rai at a function attended by King Charles III and Queen Camilla who jetted into the country on Monday.

In a video that has been circulating online, Rai was seen lining up with other leaders to greet the King. A man is heard introducing him to the King “That is Mr. Rai…the owner of the building,” he said.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi was among the leaders present. It was the first time that Rai was appearing in public after he made claims that he had been kidnapped. Around the same time, Rai was on the receiving end of President Ruto’s ire over cartels he said were controlling the sugar sector in the country.

Ruto in remarks believed to have been directed at Rai used his famous phrase ‘Mambo ni Matatu” to warn influential businessmen who were fighting over the control of Mumias Sugar Company and frustrating efforts to revive ailing public sugar millers in the Western region.

“I have told all those people to get out. That company (Mumias Sugar) is a public company, and we will reorganize it. There are three options; either leave Kenya, end up in jail or go to heaven,” President Ruto said when he toured the western sugar belt.

He also warned those fighting for the control of Mumias Sugar Company to withdraw all pending court cases and leave. But in his response, the Rai Group issued a statement denouncing the reports as unhelpful propaganda.

Rai who owns a chain of business and is said to control 43 per cent of the sugar business in Kenya went missing when his Toyota LC200 was blocked at the junction of Wood Avenue in Kilimani opposite Kenwood Apartments at around 4 pm by persons driving a grey double-cab pick-up.

The kidnap was captured on a CCTV camera on Wood Avenue, Kilimani, where he was seen being pulled off a vehicle and forced into an awaiting car. The family, through the daughter, made a report at Kilimani police station, Occurrence Book (OB) number 21/26/08/2023.

Kilimani Sub-County Police Commander Moses Ndiwa would later say that they were yet to establish the identity of the people involved though other sources alluded to business rivalry in the sugar industry.