Residents of Kairi village in Mathioya sub-county, Murang’a County are reeling in shock after a father and his son were abducted by unknown people.
60-year-old Joseph Machiri, a former MCA who served from 2013 to 2017 in Murang’a County assembly was abducted by a contingent of men who stormed his house on Sunday night.
The men who were caught on CCTV cameras that are installed in the politician’s homestead had their faces covered and were armed with guns.
Some of them were seen carrying gas cylinders believed to have been used to break doors into his house.
His son David Machiri had been abducted hours earlier from his house in the Thogoto area in Kiambu county.
Machiri’s family said the gunmen who were over 10 in number accessed his home minutes before 11 pm, switched off power and took off with him.
The incident left the family shaken and fearing for their lives and that of their two kin.
The family’s lawyer Ndegwa Njiru said the two had just been granted court bail in an ongoing Sh1.5 billion fraud case filed by a bank.
The politician’s son, David, was an employee of the bank.
The lawyer said David was arrested on July 12 last month and arraigned in court with charges of defrauding the bank.
“The prosecution applied to have him detained for 21 days but the court declined the application and granted him bail,” Njiru said.
Machiri, David’s father, had also been listed as a suspect in the case.
Njiru pointed an accusing finger at security agencies saying the abductions are a continuation of the abuse of power displayed in recent months.
“I informed the family to report the matter at the nearest police station and they did so, and the police came to the homestead and saw how the gate and doors had been destroyed.
He challenged the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to intervene and ensure his two clients whose whereabouts are still unknown are released.
“This is not the Kenya people want. Kenyans want a country where the rule of law is followed and respected.”
Machiri’s wife Nancy Wambui explained that they had spent the day at the local church before going back home.
“We had just retired to bed when the dogs started barking aggressively and we were curious as to what was happening outside”.
Wambui said the dogs were reacting to the men who were trying to break down the gate to her homestead.
She said when they realized that their home was under attack, they raised a call of alarm and neighbours responded immediately and rushed to her home but were shocked to find the gunmen loitering in her home.
Kenneth Mwangi, Machiri’s brother who lives next to the family, said it was shocking to see the covered men in the compound.
“I came armed with a panga but found people armed with guns and they commanded me to go back to the house. They sounded like security officers,” he said.
David’s wife Susan Mwaura said she left her husband at their Kiambu home and headed to church on Sunday.
Afterwards, she found a missed call from him and when she called back, his phone was switched off.
“Up to now, I do not know where he is,” she said, seemingly distraught.
Mathioya sub-county police commander Paul Karobia confirmed having received reports of the abductions but said investigations are underway to establish who took them.
“We have received reports that Machiri was abducted by thugs who were armed with guns and had a car without number plates”.
“They went to his home and even took his mobile phone and his wife’s mobile phone before taking off with him. The DCI is following up on the matter keenly and we have a lead. We are hoping to make headways soon.”
