The family of Peter Muteti, a 22-year-old social media influencer, is appealing for urgent intervention following his abduction on Saturday, December 21, 2024, in Uthiru, Nairobi.
Eyewitnesses reported that four armed men, one dressed in police uniform, forcibly bundled Muteti into a vehicle with registration number KCF 035M around 9 a.m. before speeding away. Muteti’s phone was switched off shortly after, rendering him unreachable.
His girlfriend, Mary Wambui, revealed that Muteti had been living in fear after receiving threatening messages on X (formerly Twitter). The threats followed a controversial post featuring President William Ruto, which Muteti later deleted.
“Friday asubuhi there were suspicious men aliona, ikafanya hadi adelete that post juu alikuwa na uoga, so it is true alikuwa anathreateniwa,” Wambui recounted.
Muteti’s cousin, Christine Kendi, urged the authorities to ensure transparency, stating: “We believe there is due process. He should not be hidden—he should be produced in court.”
The family has also expressed frustration over the lack of cooperation from both the apartment management and nearby businesses that might have captured CCTV footage of the incident.
Billy Mwangi: Another Influencer Vanishes Under Suspicious Circumstances
In a chillingly similar incident, Billy Mwangi, a 25-year-old social media user from Embu, was reportedly abducted on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Eyewitnesses stated that four armed, hooded men stormed into a barbershop at approximately 3:30 p.m. and dragged Mwangi away. His abduction came shortly after he shared AI-generated images of President William Ruto on social media, which some considered offensive.
Mwangi’s family reported the incident to Embu Police Station, but like Muteti’s family, they are yet to receive meaningful updates.
President Ruto’s Stand: Words Versus Reality
In his November State of the Nation Address, President William Ruto condemned enforced disappearances and extrajudicial actions, emphasizing that such practices have no place in Kenya.
“A good number of disappearances have also turned out to be arrests made by police officers. In such cases, the suspects have been duly arraigned in court,” Ruto stated.
However, the President’s reassurances stand in stark contrast to the rising number of reported disappearances and the silence from authorities when such cases are highlighted.
Families Demand Answers and Justice
Both families are calling on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) to ensure thorough investigations and accountability.
As public outrage grows and the hashtag #JusticeForMutetiAndMwangi trends online, Kenyans are demanding transparency, accountability, and immediate action to address the escalating crisis of enforced disappearances.
For now, the families of Peter Muteti and Billy Mwangi remain in agonizing uncertainty, hoping for their safe return and justice against those responsible.
