Muturi: NIS released my son on Ruto's Orders

Justin Muturi, the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Human Capital Development, has made serious allegations against the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and President William Ruto concerning the abduction of his son, Leslie Muturi.

This accusation has intensified an existing controversy regarding a series of abductions in Kenya, an issue the government has consistently denied involvement in. Muturi, a former National Assembly Speaker who supported President Ruto's administration during the 2022 elections, has transitioned from an ally to a critic of the State.

In a comprehensive statement provided to the police, he details the distressing circumstances surrounding his son's abduction in June 2024 and the steps taken to secure his return. Muturi claims that it was only after direct intervention from President Ruto that his son was released from captivity.

According to reports from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, a total of 82 Kenyans have been abducted since June 2024, with over 20 individuals still unaccounted for. Activists have raised alarms about these abductions, which appear to be correlated with anti-government sentiment expressed on social media.

This situation has drawn heightened scrutiny from human rights advocates concerning the government's policies regarding social media use. In his statement, Muturi describes a frantic search for his son that included attempts to reach out to senior government figures, among them former Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki and NIS Director-General Noordin Haji.

Despite numerous commitments to assist, it was only after President Ruto's direct involvement that Leslie was located and released. The account of Leslie's abduction reveals a troubling scenario: he was taken from a restaurant in Kilimani by armed men wearing masks and brandishing AK-47 rifles. Initially, various officials assured Muturi that there were no authorized police operations underway.

However, as the investigation unfolded, a contact within the NIS later informed him that his son was indeed in their custody. Mr. Muturi has publicly denounced the increasing instances of abductions and has urged President Ruto to take decisive measures to combat this troubling trend. The government's consistent denial of involvement, alongside warnings directed at parents and youth concerning social media activity, has added fuel to the growing controversy.

Muturi's allegationsc challenge the prevailing narrative put forth by the government and prompts serious questions about the role of the NIS and other state agencies in these abductions.