The family of social media influencer Peter Muteti, also known as “The Nairobiyan” on X (formerly Twitter) is appealing for assistance in locating him.
In an interview on Citizen TV, the family revealed that Muteti was abducted on Saturday, December 21, at around 9:00 a.m. in Uthiru, Nairobi County. He was reportedly taken from a local kiosk by two armed men who forced him into a Toyota Prado with the registration number KCF 035M.
“Yesterday, he went for breakfast at around 9:00 a.m. and did not return. I went downstairs to check on him, and some witnesses told me he had been abducted,” narrated Mary Wambui, Muteti’s girlfriend.
Peter Muteti allegedly abducted for posting President Ruto’s image
His alleged abduction, the family says, is linked to a social media post he made about President William Ruto on Thursday, December 19, which was perceived in some quarters as disrespectful.
The post had an artificial intelligence-generated photo depicting the president in a casket in what caused a fuss among a section of Kenyan users on X.
Speaking in the interview, Wambui added that Muteti had informed her about suspicious men trailing him after the post, and he received threats on social media, prompting him to delete it.
Muteti’s cousin, Christine Kendi, appealed to the government to produce him in court if he is suspected of any wrongdoing.
Also Read: Boniface Mwangi Abducted
“We appeal to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Kenya Police. We understand that Peter has been vocal on Twitter and may have made mistakes, but we believe there is due process.
We deserve to know his whereabouts. He should not be hidden but produced in court,” Kendi stated.
According to the 22-year-old’s brother, Kelvin Muteti, two armed men forced Peter Muteti into a Prado, which also contained two other men in uniform believed to be police officers, before speeding off.
ADVERT
Meanwhile, another X user, 25-year-old Billy Mwangi, who goes by the name PsychoHub, was reportedly abducted on Sunday, December 22, at 3:30 p.m. in Embu, allegedly due to a post he made about President Ruto.
Another social media influencer allegedly abducted by police officers
According to his family, Mwangi was picked up outside a barbershop by four armed in hoodies and bundled into a double-cabin pick-up truck. His family has since reported the abduction at Embu Police Station.
Muteti’s and Mwangi’s alleged abductions have since sparked outrage across social media platforms.
Socia media user Nyandia Gachago said “It’s really tiring this mess of illegal abductions.”
Also Read: CCTV Captures Moment Gunmen Abducted Murang’a Politician Amid Ksh1.5 B Theft Case
Activist Boniface Mwangi said, “If the two young men committed a criminal offense, they should have been lawfully arrested and arraigned in court, not abducted.
These abductions by armed, hooded men only confirms the growing public sentiment that this government does not believe in the rule of law.”
Boniface’s sentiments were echoed by Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina, who said, “Charge him if you want to, but release him and stop kidnapping young people for having an opinion.”
Despite public uproar about increased abductions, the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has vehemently denied police involvement in those abductions.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and join our WhatsApp Group for real-time news updates.
