Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Mystery into the release of the young men who were abducted in December but released on Monday deepened after some of them remained tight-lipped while others said they were experiencing partial memory loss.

The National Police Service (NPS) has maintained that they were not involved in the abductions and promised to investigate the cases.

Multiple sources have however said that claims by the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, that there exists a squad behind the incidents operating from the twenty-first floor of a building in the city centre, were plausible.

One of the victims, Billy Mwangi, yesterday finally spoke to the media but could not recollect what transpired after he was abducted, while he was in the hands of the captors.

According to Mwangi, he was not able to speak on the conditions of where he was held because he was still recovering psychologically.

“I’m not okay mentally,” he revealed, “I left the hospital yesterday and I could not recognise anything.”

Mwangi, who appeared visibly shaken, dressed in white T-shirt, black trousers and a cap said he was dumped in Nyeri before boarding a matatu to Embu.

Worrying trends

His parents’ home was a beehive of activity with friends and neighbours visiting to confirm his return.

“We are very happy that the boy is now in the house, this abduction had subjected us as neighbours to untold mental trauma,” said a neighbour.

A relative of 22-year-old Peter Muteti, who was seized in Nairobi, on 21 December said he had been reunited with the family but was disoriented and unable to speak about the ordeal.

Several human rights organisations have condemned the recent cases of abductions. The state-funded rights group saying that over 80 people have been abducted in the last six months.

The abductions generally target government critics and are widely believed to be the work of security agents, although the authorities have not admitted responsibility.

Kibet Bull, known for his silhouette cartoon memes, announced his release on Monday afternoon through X. He said he had been dropped off in the town of Luanda, nearly 370 kilometres away from Nairobi.

On Monday police acknowledged the freeing of the men, saying they were already in contact with one of the abductees, Bernard Kavuli, who had presented himself at a police station in Maili Saba near Kitale.

The police said investigations into all cases of missing people were under way. Ronny Kiplangat was also released, his family said.