The government has confirmed the safe release of Samuel Njagi Mbugua, a Kenyan who was abducted on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at his workplace in Ethiopia.
In a statement on Wednesday, November 5, the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary (OPCS) announced that Mbugua had been freed after sustained and coordinated efforts involving the Government of Ethiopia, the Kenyan Embassy in Addis Ababa, his employer, and his family.
He arrived safely at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, where he was reunited with his family after several tense days of negotiations and diplomatic engagement.
“We thank God for his safe return. As a government, we remain committed to supporting Mr. Mbugua and his family as they recover from this traumatic ordeal,” the statement read in part.
Samuel Njagi Released
The Office further reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the welfare and safety of Kenyans working abroad, noting that such cases remain a top priority in its diplomatic efforts.
“We thank God for his safe return,” read part of the statement.
“As a government, we remain committed to supporting Mr. Mbugua and his family as they recover from this traumatic ordeal, and to ensuring that the welfare and safety of Kenyans working abroad remain a top priority in our diplomatic engagements.”
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Ethiopian Abducted in Nairobi
In November 2021, an Ethiopian businessman based in Nairobi went missing after he was abducted by unknown people.
Businessman Samson Teklemichael was reportedly abducted in broad daylight after being stopped by a man dressed in a traffic police uniform while driving his Bentley.
Witnesses said Teklemichael was ordered out of his vehicle before being forcefully bundled into a Subaru by several men in civilian clothes, as shocked motorists captured the incident on their phones.
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His wife, Milen Mezgebo, said she had been unable to reach him since the abduction. She revealed that Teklemichael managed to call her as he was being taken away, but the call was abruptly cut off.
“He called and told me he had been abducted by people he didn’t know. After that, he disconnected. We have reported the matter to the police and embassy but no help so far,” she said.
According to reports, the abductors left his Bentley at the scene along a road in Kileleshwa, where it was later spotted by a friend who informed his wife. She later went to retrieve the vehicle.
In a video that went viral, Teklemichael could be heard pleading with bystanders to record his capture, moments before he was dragged into the waiting Subaru.
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