Wajir DO Yesse Mule (left) in a joyous moment with his wife Monah Yessi
(right) after he was reunited with his family at their parents house in
Buru Buru August 1, 2013. Mr Mule who had been in the hands of
al-Shabaab for almost two years after his abduction in January 2012 said
he was glad to be back home. ANN KAMONI
Thursday, August 01, 2013
Tears flowed freely as Kenya government officials abducted by
Somalia militia al-Shabaab almost two years ago were reunited with their
families.
Mule Yasse, who was kidnapped
in Wajir County where he was a District Officer, was released to the
family by Interior Cabinet Secretary Jospeh Lenku at the ministry’s
headquarters Thursday.
He was accompanied by Fredrick Wainaina, an official at the Registrar of Persons office.
The two had been held by the terrorist group in Somalia.
Mr Lenku said no ransom was paid to secure their release.
"Today (Thursday) is a great
day for it marks the end of their agony. The release of the two
government officials was made possible following successful negotiations
spearheaded by border communities in the North Eastern region,” he
said.
The DO’s father Edward Yasse
could not hold back tears as he set eyes on his son for the first time
since the abduction on January 12, 2012.
Six Kenyans were killed and
three others injured during the abduction in which more than 100
al-Shabaab fighters raided Gerille Administration Police post, near the
border with Somalia.
“The journey to Somalia
started there but I can also say that’s when the journey to freedom
started. We were always blindfolded and bound in chains. I realised that
as long as you are breathing you should never lose hope, anything else
like a bath is just luxury,” said Mr Mule.
Mr Lenku said the two were
freed last Sunday and that the government is working to ensure other
Kenyans being held hostage are released.
“The government would wish to
thank the families of the two officers for their patience
and cooperation throughout this very trying moment. We also thank all
those who played a role towards the release of the two officers, and
appeal that similar cooperation is extended in future,” he said.
The Nation
independently established that the two were received by officers from
the National Intelligence Service and Directorate of Military
Intelligence who spoke to them before they were released to the family.