Wednesday September 15, 2021
Nairobi (HOL) - The family of a Somali Scholar who was kidnapped in Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) has rubbished claims that he has been found.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Abdiwahab Sheikh Abdisamad's family dispelled claims that the missing University Don had been found.
"He is still missing, and his family is unaware of his whereabouts. The family would appreciate any information on his whereabouts and will continue to press the authorities to release him unconditionally," the statement read in part.
It further asked Kenyans to continue assisting the family in the search, maintaining that those spreading the rumour had ill intentions.
"The family wishes to dispel claims that Abdiwahab has been found, and encourages anyone spreading false and misleading information to stop."
Abdisamad was abducted in broad daylight by four men who handcuffed him and threw him into a waiting double-cabin vehicle.
Witnesses said that a fifth man on the driver's seat also watched as Abdisamad was being abducted before leaving the scene at a break-neck speed once he had been thrown into the motor vehicle.
The motor vehicle he was bundled into has a registration number whose records are not with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). This government parastatal keeps records of vehicles and their owners.
On Monday, Muslim leaders led by Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki and Mvita Member of Parliament Abdulswamad Nassir threatened to take legal action against Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang'i, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss George Kinoti and Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai over the disappearance of the scholar.
The duo also said that they were in plans to present a joint motion this week. They expect the top security bosses in the country to appear in parliament in-person to shed more light on how Kenyans of Somali origin were disappearing in the country.
Over the weekend, the family of Abdisamad, who was the executive director of the Institute for Horn of Africa Strategic Studies, claimed that he might have been kidnapped on orders issued by Somalia Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble.
Another Somali national Bashir Mohamed was abducted on a mid-day afternoon outside Miale Lounge in Lavington Estate earlier this year.
His body was two weeks later found with torture wounds while his car was burnt down by unknown people in Kibiku, Ngong Kajiado county.