My Experience in the hands of kidnappers.
The above happened on the afternoon of the 21st September 2009.
I had an appointment at my Barbershop at 14:20hrs which is on Kenyatta Avenue and arrived there at that time we had agreed. However since there were two people before me I waited for my turn. He was through with me at around 16:00hrs. There after I crossed over to Standard Street and was walking past Simmers Restaurant when I came across a pregnant lady who looked as if she was staggering and blood was dripping on her right leg. At that time I was talking to a friend of mine on my cell phone but asked to call him back since I was concerned by what I had seen. Upon sensing my concern the lady beckoned me and asked me to assist her get car which was parked a few meters from where we were standing. “Once there I will be fine”, is what she said. Since she looked desperate, I took it upon myself to assist her.
As we were walking toward the car we were approached by two men who were looked middle aged and were in sunglasses, calling out “Wanjiru/ Wanjiku”, can’t figure out which of the two it was, anyway they asked her what was wrong and that they were volunteering to take her to the hospital. One man opened the back door to the saloon car we were approaching so that I could help the woman seat down. Upon ensuring that the woman was comfortably seated on the backseat I felt a hard thing being pointed at my back, on looking back, I saw aone of the men who had opened the door holding a pistol to me, he then told me to get into the same car. Upon entry the same woman removed a cloth from her handbag and covered my mouth and nose.
That is all I remember because I blacked out and when I came to I was in a very dark room, half naked and shivering. Further scrutiny revealed that I only had my vest on. I initially thought I was dead but then I asked myself how come there was no light/any sign of life to show where I was. Anyway I started familiarizing myself with the place by touching the floor and wall behind me, in that process I touched something that felt weird and out of panic I let out a loud cry and to my shock came a voice from somewhere saying, “Huyo Ameamka”. That’s when I realized that I was somewhere enclosed since there were no windows/ any form of ventilation and there did not seem to be electricity since the room was pitch dark. I onlysaw a sign of life when the door was opened and a man walked in and from his attire, I got confused. (He was in a hooded mask, the ones that normally have two holes at the eyes, a black coat and black gumboots). Since there was light from where he had come, for the first time I was able to pick out at least five to six captives who were scattered across the room and were also half naked. He picked up one man by his hand, walked out and closed the door behind him. A few minutes/ an hour (I couldn’t tell the time) the man was brought back in. Since there was nothing much to do because routine was to wait for your turn to be picked, if not one would sleep and wake up much later when we would be fed with a one bite of a queen cake and a sip of soda.
As we were seated there all I could do was pray and ask God for a second chance in this life and also for his guidance. As time passed I heard the door open very fast and a man came in and asked the person who was seated near the door to wipe the mess she had made. Apparently she had gone for a short call thus she was asked to lick her mess since there was no one there to wipe it. She did try licking it but was defeated so the man started kicking her but I volunteered to help her that’s when the man stopped kicking her.
A few hours after that ordeal the same man, I presume, came back and picked me up. I was taken into what looked like an operating room where they connected some gadgets on my chest to check on my heart rate then smeared some liquid on my chest and stomach and checked what was in my body (like an ultrasound) lastly they took a sample of my semen then took me back to the usual room where were being kept. Kindly note that these tests were being done to everyone however there were some people who would go in and not come back. When that happened it would take a short while before you would hear people cutting something and sharpening of metals and drills then the whole room would be engulfed with the smell of blood.
Anyway I have no idea how long I stayed but when the usual pickup man came he was accompanied by another one. They came to inform me that my organs were worthless however they would not let me go before they got anything from me insinuating that they wanted to rape me. When the lady I had helped earlier heard what was transpiring she asked the men to go to her instead of taking me. She spoke rather graphically to convey that a lady is better than a man, rather sacrificing herself to be raped on my behalf. When I heard this I refused but the lady insisted and infact told me to shut up. When the men heard this they just laughed and walked out.
When they came again they dragged me out of the room, blindfolded and took me to another room where I was given my clothes to wear. I was then dragged outside the building or house. When we got to where the car was they removed their blindfold and took my handkerchief to use it as a blindfold. I was then put in the boot of a station wagon which looked like a Toyota Caldina. We then drove on a rough road for at least 30-45mins then got to the tarmac and again drove for again at least what seemed to be an hour and half. We were stopped twice at the traffic checks however they did not spot me inside the boot. When the vehicle finally came to a stop I was yanked out still blindfolded and told to walk and not look back. When the car sped off I quickly removed the blindfold and looked around. The first thing I saw was a matatu plying route 145 on further scrutiny of the area I realized that I was near Roysambu road about. On this realization I walked to Kasarani Police station.
When I got there the one thing I noticed was the watch which was reading 05:45hrs, Thursday 24th. I then took my phone, switched it on and called my wife to inform her of where I was.(Kindly note that they did not take any of my possessions, which included my wallet, driving license and monies). The policeman on duty then recorded my statement on the OB(Occurrence book) then asked to wait for their boss to come since I had to explain the same to him. He did come and I was taken through the same procedure but it was made easierby the fact that my family rather my wife had personally told him that they were looking for me so when he asked me my name again and I answered he quickly jumped up andexclaimed “Praise Jesus” something I have not heard from the ordinary police and told me that they had been looking for me.
He quickly called my wife and mother as well to inform them that I was at the police station. Later on I recorded a statement with the CID in the same station thereafter I went to the hospital for a physical checkup. The same was done on the 25th Friday and the good news is that after the results were out EVERY TEST done came out negative.
I sincerely would like to thank God for giving me a second chance in life, my very special wife for her support and love as well as my family, friends and colleagues for their prayers. I can’t thank my wife and everyone enough for the efforts they put as far as looking for me in hospitals, police stations and even mortuaries is concerned. Please keep safe and God bless each and every one of you and your families as well.
