Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has weighed in on Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Human Capital Development Justin Muturi’s recent revelation about his son’s abduction.
According to a police statement filed by CS Muturi at Kilimani Police Station on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, his son, Leslie Muturi, was kidnapped by armed hooded gangsters along Dennis Pritt Road on June 22, 2024.
Speaking on a local radio station on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, Sifuna described the incident as a troubling reflection of the country’s deteriorating security situation.
“We have reached a point where even cabinet members are openly acknowledging that the nation is headed in the wrong direction,” Sifuna stated.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary-General defended Muturi from criticism over the delayed disclosure, attributing his actions to parental instincts.
“All of us have parental instincts. Our children are where we draw the line. I would absolutely go to war over my child,” he affirmed.
Sifuna also lamented the rising number of abductions, emphasizing the implications for national security.
“If a cabinet member’s child can be abducted in such a manner, then no one is safe. These incidents have made Kenya a laughingstock in the region,” he said.
Sifuna further suggested that Muturi’s account confirmed President William Ruto’s awareness of abduction cases in the country.
“If the President can intervene with just one phone call to have someone released, it raises questions about who is orchestrating these actions,” Sifuna argued.
CS Muturi’s Ordeal
In his statement to the police, Muturi recounted the distressing moments after receiving a frantic call from his daughter-in-law, Wairimu, informing him of Leslie’s abduction.
The Cabinet Secretary sought assistance from various security agencies, including the Inspector General of Police, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the National Intelligence Service (NIS), but his efforts were initially futile.
Muturi disclosed that CCTV footage showed vehicles trailing Leslie’s car before the abduction.
“The footage showed Leslie driving out, followed by Mwenje. It also captured a box Prado and another vehicle, resembling a Probox, following them prior to the abduction,” Muturi revealed.
President Ruto’s Intervention
After exhausting other avenues, Muturi sought help from President William Ruto, who had been attending a church service in Nyandarua.
“I went to State House to see the President and narrated the ordeal, including my belief that NIS was holding my son,” Muturi stated.
The President reportedly contacted NIS Director Noordin Haji to inquire about Leslie’s whereabouts.
“Standing outside the pavilion, I heard the President ask Noordin Haji if he was holding my son. Noordin confirmed and promised to release Leslie within an hour,” Muturi explained.
Leslie was subsequently released, bringing the harrowing experience to an end.
