Baringo MCA narrates ordeal in hands of ‘abductors’

A Member of County Assembly from Baringo, who was allegedly abducted last Sunday, now claims one of the two vehicles his kidnappers used, belongs to government.

Speaking from his hospital bed at Kabarak University Health Centre on Monday morning, Silale Ward MCA Nelson Lotela claimed that when he was in the hands of the alleged abductors, he overheard an argument where one of the gunmen said the car was a “GK vehicle.”

Mr. Lotela, who was found at a maize plantation, says he was carjacked by at least four men armed with sophisticated rifles.

“When one of the cars blocked us at the bridge, four armed men – dressed in T-shirts – emerged and bundled me out of the vehicle alongside the driver,” said Mr. Lotela.

“I asked them what the problem was. They, instead, descended on me with kicks and slaps,” said the Baringo MCA.

“They ordered me to get into their black double cabin vehicle. When I refused, they dragged me into a Land Cruiser. They blindfolded me and tied my hands. One of them hit me with his gun on the shoulder and the vehicle started driving towards Marigat.”

The Baringo MCA narrated that as they drove away they got to a roadblock, where the vehicle stopped and the four gunmen disembarked the vehicle.

“All the four guys got out of the vehicle and I heard them saying: ‘this is a government vehicle’. I could not hear anything else, thereafter,” said the MCA. “We proceeded for about 100 metres and I heard them saying they should not leave the other vehicle behind (double cabin).”

Mr. Lotela claims the driver of the car he was in, stopped for about two minutes waiting for the other vehicle to pass the roadblock after which they changed route and started driving toward a bush.

As they drove on, the MCA says one of the men asked him whether he was the spokesperson of his community, to which he responded no.

“One of them then told me that I am blocking ‘operations’. I asked him what is the issue and he told me ‘we are doing what we were told to do…”’ said the MCA.

Mr. Lotela added that after driving for a significant distance, the vehicle drove into a compound where he was ordered to get out and face the opposite direction. He was, thereafter, led into a ditch.

“They untied me and I was dragged towards a small ditch… I asked them why they wanted to kill me. They did not respond. One of them walked away. I was told to kneel down. I obliged. After two minutes, I heard the vehicle leaving.

I remained still for about five minutes, but I could not hear any movements. I opened my eyes and found myself in a fenced compound.”

The Silale Ward Representative was reportedly found at a maize plantation in Sobea, Nakuru County, by good samaritans who took him to Kabarak University Health Centre.

A doctor at the health facility said the county legislator was in a stable condition.

“When we received him at around 8am, he was a bit weak and looked confused, he had no physical injuries but some of his clothes were torn. We have assessed him for soft tissue injuries because he is complaining of neck, shoulder and pains on the thighs,” said the doctor.

Meanwhile, Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti said police have intensified investigations into the incident.