Tortured, feet burned, starved: Activist Muteti Mulinge narrates horrific 4-day abduction ordeal

Activist Muteti Mulinge is receiving medical treatment after he was found alive in the Lukenya area of Athi River following his abduction.

Mulinge, who had been missing for four days, was reportedly dumped there on Thursday night by his abductors. His family is demanding answers as serious questions about a rising trend of targeted abductions emerge.

Lying weak in a hospital bed, visibly shaken but alive, Mulinge, who is nursing physical and emotional wounds, narrated his four-day nightmare, which began during protests in Nairobi demanding the release of Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye.

“Waliniumiza sana, it was a very brutal encounter...” he said.

Mulinge recounted a horrifying ordeal at the hands of unknown men who abducted him.

“Hawa watu ni kama walinitrail kuanzia asubuhi nikitoka home, vile tulikuwa hapo nikienda kuprint documents za petition, walinichukua na kupotea, sikujua nilipelekwa wapi,” he said.

He claims he was subjected to severe torture, physical abuse, and starvation throughout his four days in captivity.

“Sijawahi kula tangu hiyo siku, walinipiga sana, kuchoma miguu na all along I was blindfolded, sikuwa nawaona but walikuwa wanananiuliza kwa nini naingilia serikali...” Mulinge narrated.

In a move meant to humiliate him, his abductors also shaved off his hair before dumping him by the roadside in Lukenya under the cover of darkness.

“Sikuwa nimenyoa, but unaona hata vile walinyoa before wakuje kunitupa hapo usiku... sikuwa naweza hata kutembea, I was very weak....” said Mulinge.

Family Lawyer Dan Maanzo added: “The aim of dumping him in Lukenya was for hyenas to attack him... this was the government; we are telling Ruto that you cannot continue with this trend...”

But even as Mulinge recovers, the whereabouts of another human rights defender, Collins Otieno, remain unknown.

“We shall continue putting pressure for the State to release Collins. From what we have gathered, he is in their custody.... Mulinge, you've seen the injuries... on his feet, head... he was really tortured and suffered memory loss....” Vocal Africa Director Hussein Khalid said.

Otieno vanished shortly after visiting a police station where he had gone to report Mulinge’s initial disappearance. He was abducted moments later.

Mulinge's family wants answers on their kin's abduction.

“As a family, we have been looking for him; we thank God he's here safe but in critical condition... we are asking Ruto to stop this....” Mulinge’s sister Gloria Mwende noted.

They are also issuing an urgent plea to the authorities for the immediate release and safe return of Collins Otieno, whose family is now fearing the worst.