KIAMBU Kenya June 12 -Media personality Ciku Muiruri’s missing daughter, Erica Njeri Gachoka and her friend who were allegedly kidnapped on June 4 have been rescued
Njeri and her friend Shanice Agose were rescued on Sunday June 11 following an operation conducted by a joint team of sleuths drawn from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB)and the Operations branch.
Two women, aged 26 and 27 respectively, were abducted after attending a house party in Nairobi’s Westlands area, according to the family and police.
“After the party, the two requested a ride to Kilimani, via the Bolt taxi application. But when the ride arrived along Rhapta road in Westlands and they got in, the driver threatened them using a hammer before speeding off towards Thika,” the DCI said.
Investigations into the abduction were immediately launched as the detectives trailed the suspects who operated between Nairobi, Thika, Ruiru and Witeithie in Kiambu County.
The abductors demanded for a ransom of Sh250,000 from each of the two, in order to release them.
A message demanding a Sh250,000 ransom was sent from the phone of Njeri to the maternal uncle’s phone.
Part of the message read: “Please I was kidnapped last 9te by some Somali and am almost headed to Somalia if 250k is not sent by cob tomorrow. Please help. (sic).”
On Sunday, the detectives raided a house in Ngoigwa area in Thika, where two suspects Timothy Kiragu, 34 and Samuel Kipkurui, 33 were arrested.
“After a brief interview, the duo led detectives to Gatukuyu in Mang’u, Kiambu County, where the two women were rescued. Assorted crude weapons and fake motor vehicle number plates were recovered from the suspects,” the DCI said.
The visibly weak and shaken victims who were found in a one-roomed house where they had been locked up have since been reunited with their families.
The mother said the two were abducted on Sunday morning at around 2am.
In a Facebook post Ciku revealed the abduction and said: “Peace be with you all. Novena is below. But first, I have a very special favour to ask each and every one of you. In the early hours of Sunday morning (2am), my daughter and a friend of hers were abducted by a taxi driver.”
“We know that prayers can move mountains. Stop wars. Please pray for my daughter Erica Njeri and her friend Shanice Agose as part of your intentions. Also, and this is very important, pray for those who have taken them, that their souls may not be lost,” she added.
The distressed mother said she had no control over what the abductors were doing to her daughter and friend.
“I have no control over what they are doing to her, where she is or if I will ever see her alive again. Only God can help her,” she said.
Njeri is a 26-year-old University of Nottingham alumni and the founder of the Le Ngai Foundation.
Erica has been pushing for access to blood for all Kenyans and had participated in the 2013 Chicago Marathon to raise money for a mobile blood unit.
She participated in the race to help the BloodLink Foundation raise Sh4.3 million to purchase a mobile blood donation unit to help mobilize blood donors to ensure sufficient safe blood for needy Kenyans.
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