A Kenyan man who was abducted from his workplace in Ethiopia on October 28 has been released after the kidnappers' ransom demands were met.
According to the Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, the man, identified as Samuel Mbugua, come back to Kenya after his kidnappers released him following a Ksh3 million ransom payment by his employer.
Mbugua had been working as a plant manager for a glass packing plant in Debre Benha, in Amhara, a town 120 kilometres from Addis Ababa.
After his abduction last Tuesday, the Kenyan Embassy in Ethiopia reported the matter to the Ethiopian authorities, and negotiations for his release began.
Subsequently, the embassy, the Ethiopian embassy, Mbugua's family and employer helped in negotiating for his release, which was granted on Monday, November 4 after his employer paid the ransom.
"Today, November 4th, Mr Mbugua was released following concerted efforts of the Ethiopian Government, the Kenyan Embassy, the company, and the family, the difficult negotiations," the office of the Prime CS announced.
"The Company paid 3 million Ethiopian Birr, equivalent to Ksh3 million [sic] to secure his release."
Following his release, plans were made to fly him back home to Kenya immediately. He left the Bole Airport in Addis Ababa on the 11:35pm flight on November 4.
"We are deeply relieved to announce that Mr Samuel Njagi Mbugua, who was abducted on Tuesday, October 28th, 2025, at his workplace in Ethiopia, has been safely released and reunited with his family after arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi," a communication from the PCS's office read.
However, the office did not relay the circumstances leading up to his abduction or subsequent release.
This is not the first time a Kenyan has gone missing in Ethiopia in troubling circumstances.
Just four years ago, a Kenyan businessman was reportedly kidnapped by his counterpart in Ethiopia after a multi-million shilling deal went wrong.
The Kenyan tycoon, Simon Njoroge, told his wife that an Ethiopian businessman was demanding Ksh25 million for his release after a deal went south.
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