Freedom for officials after close to two years in captivity

 

The mother of Wajir DO Yesse Mule prays for her son on January 19, 2012, after he was abducted by Al-Shabaab militants. Mr Mule and another government officer, Mr Fredrick Wainaina, were freed on Tuesday. PHOTO | NMG 

By Fred Mukinda, The Citizen Correspondent  (email the author)

In Summary

Mr Mule Yesse — who was captured in January 2012 in Wajir where he was district officer, was released on Monday, his family confirmed.

Nairobi. Two officials who were abducted by Al-Shabaab have been freed after almost two years in captivity.

Mr Mule Yesse — who was captured in January 2012 in Wajir where he was district officer, was released on Monday, his family confirmed.

Also freed was Mr Fredrick Irungu Wainaina, who works with the office of the Registrar of Persons.

The two are currently in Nairobi.

The Nation independently established that they were received by officers from the National Intelligence Service and the Directorate of Military Intelligence who spent most of Tuesday with them.

Mr Yesse’s father, Edward said: “I’ve not seen my son but I can confirm the information is true because I have been talking to him on phone since yesterday (Monday). We are waiting for a reunion later but it’s too early to give more information.”

Edward also shared the information with a friend through an SMS seen by the Nation.

It read: “I did not want you to hear it as part of the rumours. I am happy to inform you that my son was released yesterday. More details to follow. Our God is a God of wonders! Yesse.”

Another family member who requested not to be identified said relatives had been instructed not divulge the information.

During the abduction on January 12, 2012, about 100 Al-Shabaab fighters had attacked and destroyed an Administration Police camp at Gerille. Six Kenyans were killed in the raid which occurred barely three months after the Kenya Defence Forces entered Somalia to wage war against Al-Shabaab militants.

The terror group demanded that Kenya release its members who were being held on terrorism charges, including Kenyans who had been charged in Uganda, as a condition to have Mr Yasse and Mr Wainaina freed.

The group was referring to suspects who were on trial for the twin bomb attacks in Kampala in 2010, in which claimed more than 74 lives. The bombs went off in a club where a crowd was watching a World Cup match. At the time, the football tournament was being held in South Africa.