15 days in captivity: Bernard Kavuli recounts how abductors forcibly shaved his hair, beards

At exactly 4pm on Wednesday, Bernard Kavuli arrived at Ngong Police Station in the company of his two lawyers. This was his second visit to the station after he first landed on Monday from Moi's Bridge where his abductors left him.

For over an hour, Kavuli recorded his statement at the station, detailing his ordeal in the hands of his abductors.

His lawyer Shadrack Wambui said: "Our client had to experience or endure a situation that was meant to cow him, to intimidate him so that he refuses to address some of the wrongs he sees in his country. They visited violence on him, treated him in very inhumane manner, which details we shall be settling down in an affidavit to be presented before court.”

The lawyer noted that Kavuli was specifically questioned about his X posts which were critically of the government.

"He was taken in and asked questions, brutalized, beaten up because of the views he holds as a Kenyan, youthful leader, someone who understands what is happening in the political sphere,” stated Wambui.

Kavuli said his rights were violated as the abductors, who were armed to the teeth, shaved his hair and beards without his consent.

"Our client is known to be very hairy but you can see this is something that he did not voluntarily accept, he did not accept to be shaved, he did not accept to be taken through those experiences and these are things we shall be detailing and share with the public,” added Wambui.

Having been blindfolded for the period he was in captivity, Kavuli did not recognize his abductors who were masked.

The advocate said: “He did not have an opportunity of seeing the faces of his abductors but at the very least he is able to recognize the voices, they are people who were masked and did not wish to disclose their identities. We fear they are law enforcement officers because they had these chains, they had guns, these are not things you see with normal individuals.”

He was warned against talking of his experiences to the media. Kavuli, who also appeared at Milimani Law Courts during the hearing of a petition by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) for Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to present the abducted men in court, is expected to undergo medical examination following his ordeal in the hands of the abductors.

Gideon Kibet, Ronny Kiplagat, Peter Muteti and Billy Mwangi who were also released by their abductors are also expected to record their statements with the police from Thursday.