'I have forgiven my abductors': Billy Mwangi returns home after hospital discharge

Speaking after leaving the health facility on Tuesday, Mwangi expressed gratitude to God for returning home in one piece, similarly forgiving his abductors for putting him through the traumatic ordeal.

Mwangi was abducted on December 21, 2024 while waiting for a haircut at a barber shop in Embu town. A white double-cabin pickup truck pulled up at the location and four hooded men, suspected to be government security agents, forcibly bundled him into the vehicle.

Witnesses reported that the masked men bundled Mwangi into the car without any explanation.

"I was mentally tortured and don’t remember many things. It will take time for me to recover. Even now, I feel disturbed and confused. However, I have forgiven those who abducted me and left them in the hands of God," he said.

Mwangi's release brought immense relief to his family, who had tirelessly campaigned for his freedom. His father, Gerald Karicha, thanked Kenyans and church leaders who protested and prayed for his son's safe return.

"Kenyans stood with us and their efforts led to my son's release. We are forever grateful," he said.

Neighbours and friends likewise joined the family in celebrating Mwangi’s return, marking the end of an agonizing period for his parents, who had endured sleepless nights since his disappearance in late December.

His family reported the abduction to the police, but initial efforts to locate him were unsuccessful. Preliminary investigations revealed that Mwangi's phone was switched off 400 meters from the abduction site.

Mwangi says he was held in a dark room, where he was beaten and subjected to mental torture. He was eventually dropped in Nyeri and managed to travel home by public transport.

Medical assessments have confirmed that he suffered physical and psychological trauma during the ordeal.

On his part, Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji condemned Mwangi’s abduction, describing it as a violation of human rights. He likewise called for legal reforms to hold the government accountable in cases of forced abductions and disappearances.