Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has detailed the dramatic events surrounding the abduction of his son, Leslie Muturi, allegedly by the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
In a police statement seen by Nairobileo.co.ke on Tuesday, January 14, the CS shed light on the lengths he went to in order to secure his son’s release.
According to the statement, Muturi learnt about NIS' involvement in his son's abduction from a friend working within the intelligence unit.
"Between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m., a friend from NIS called, informing me that my son was being held by their people. I shared this information with my friends, and it was agreed that I should call Noordin Haji again. Despite multiple attempts, he did not answer," he recalled.
Growing increasingly concerned, Muturi contacted Interior CS Prof. Kithure Kindiki for assistance who called back and informed him that NIS was not holding his son.
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“Just before 1:00 PM, I decided to call Prof. Kindiki, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior. After explaining the entire situation, he expressed shock and assured me he would contact Noordin Haji. Fifteen minutes later, Prof. Kindiki called back, saying he had spoken with the DG of NIS, who denied holding Leslie. Despite my insistence that I had confirmed information from a NIS officer, Prof. Kindiki maintained that the DG could not be lying,” Muturi explained.
Muturi’s worries persisted, prompting him to take matters into his own hands, and drove to State House to voice his concerns to President William Ruto.
"We continued our inquiries and checked my phone to see if the President had read my message. He had not. Shortly afterward, we saw the Presidential helicopters heading towards State House. Knowing the President had been attending a church service in Nyandarua, I decided to drive to State House to see him in person,” he said.
Upon arriving at State House, Muturi found the President engaged in discussions with MPs, and waited for the meeting to end before raising the issue with the President.
“After greetings, I informed the President about my message, and he explained that his phone had crashed due to an overload of messages. I then narrated the ordeal, including my interactions with various senior government officials who had been unable to help. I expressed my belief that NIS was holding my son,” he recounted.
According to Muturi, the Ruto responded with humor before calling Haji directly to sask him if he was holding Leslie.
"The President joked, asking why anyone would want to arrest a young person over the Gen Z demonstrations. He even mentioned that Kiunjuri’s son and the sons of other officials had been involved in similar demonstrations. He then called Noordin Haji directly,” Muturi said.
Muturi noted that it was during this call that Haji allegedly confirmed Leslie’s detention.
"Standing outside the pavilion, I heard the President ask Noordin Haji if he was holding my son. Noordin confirmed that indeed he was holding my son and the President instructed him to release Leslie immediately. Noordin responded that Leslie would be released within an hour,” he revealed.
According to Muturi, true to Ruto's directive, Leslie was released shortly after.
"After thanking the president, I drove out of State House and rejoined my friends in Gigiri and explained what had happened. Slightly over an hour later, Leslie called me to say he had been released and was at home. I then went home to see him,” Muturi concluded.
Muturi recorded his statement at Kilimani Police Station.
