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Embu town erupted in protests on Friday as residents demanded the release of 24-year-old Billy Mwangi, who was abducted on December 21. Demonstrators lit fires and blocked roads, calling for urgent action to locate Mwangi, who has been missing for six days.
Eyewitnesses reported that Mwangi was forcibly taken from a barber shop by four masked men armed with rifles. The abductors, driving a double-cabin pickup, sped off toward the Embu-Nairobi Highway. Despite frantic searches by his family, no leads have surfaced.
The abduction has sparked speculation that Mwangi’s disappearance could be linked to a controversial post he made on X (formerly Twitter), featuring an AI-generated image critical of President William Ruto. The incident has raised fears about a clampdown on free speech in Kenya.
Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji joined the outcry, stating, “The people of Embu have unanimously spoken in one voice: #FreeBillyMwangi and all those abducted.”
Mwangi’s case is part of a disturbing pattern of abductions targeting individuals who express dissent against the government. This month alone, six others—Steve Kavingo Mbisi, Peter Muteti, Bernard Kavuli, Rony Kiplang’at, and Gideon Kibet—have reportedly disappeared after posting critical content about the administration.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has decried the rising number of enforced disappearances, reporting 82 abductions since June, with 29 individuals still unaccounted for. Despite growing outrage, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the National Police Service (NPS) have denied involvement.
The protests in Embu underscore mounting public frustration over the erosion of human rights and freedom of expression. Residents have vowed to sustain demonstrations until Mwangi is found, calling on the government to address the alarming trend of abductions.
As the nation awaits answers, Billy Mwangi’s disappearance serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for justice, accountability, and protection of fundamental freedoms in Kenya.
