Businessman Jaswant Singh Rai was reportedly released on Sunday, August 28, 24 hours after unknown men abducted him in broad daylight.
The businessman with investments in sugar, timber, and real estate made news over the weekend after his family shared a video of the abduction with law enforcement officers giving no details of the incident.
His lawyer Kioko Kilukumi confirmed that the billionaire was released on Sunday evening, but did not provide details on who detained him.
The release came just hours after President William Ruto warned the billionaire industrialist, accusing him of exploiting sugar farmers in western Kenya without providing any evidence.
Ruto's remarks at a church service in Bungoma pointed to a government abduction, raising questions over the reasons for his arrests.
CCTV cameras captured Rai's abduction in Kilimani. The businessman was waiting in traffic when unknown individuals driving a white Pickup truck suddenly parked in front of his vehicle and whisked him away.
His family filed a missing person complaint at the police station to help locate his whereabouts.
According to reports from the Kilimani Police Station, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) was leading the investigations on the missing person report.
Rai produces at least half of the sugar consumed in Kenya according to data from the Sugar Directorate.
The billionaire owns West Kenya Sugar/Kabras Millers in Malava, Kakamega, Sukari Industries of Ndhiwa in Homabay, Olepito Sugar at Tangakona in Busia, and Naitiri Sugar in Bungoma county.
Ruto's remarks therefore were a veiled attack on the businessman who controls the sugar production in the western region.
“Msikuwe na wasiwasi niko hapo chonjo kabisa. Nitahakikisha hii kitu inakaa chonjo. Na wakora wote wako katikati. Msikuwe na wasiwasi ati kuna mtu atakuja kutuongelesha kingereza. Sijui mhindi fulani. Sijui nani ni nani. Sijui mwingine ananiambia Rai. Rai Nani? Hapana hiyo haiwezekani.”
The Head of State's remarks translate to;
"Do not be worried, I am alert to make sure everything will be okay. No one will meddle. Do not be worried about someone coming to talk to us. Someone was telling me Rai. Who is Rai? No, that is not possible."
