Alarm raised after gang abducts assistant chief KENYA

Pauline Nyambura Mathenge, an assistant chief from Solio Settlement scheme who was kidnapped by unknown people yesterday night while at her home. The kidnappers are now demanding a ransom of Sh2 million  Photo/BONIFACE MWANGI

By FRANCIS NJENGA

Fear has gripped residents of Solio village in Naro Moru after an assistant chief from the area was kidnapped.

Villagers said Ms Pauline Nyambura Mathenge of Rehema sub-location was abducted from her home at 10.30pm on Wednesday while her son, a Class Three pupil, was asleep.

Police said the kidnappers were demanding a Sh2 million ransom from her husband.

Ms Mary Wachuka, a villager, said: “A watchman who guards my posho mill near the assistant chief’s home called me, saying that she (Ms Mathenge) had been abducted.”

Ms Wachuka said she immediately woke up a neighbour and rushed to Ms Mathenge’s home. They found her house open and her son asleep.

The two then reported the matter to village elder Samuel Muhoro, who immediately called the police at Naro Moru.

Mr Samuel Kinuthia, the watchman at Ms Wachuka’s posho mill, said that the administrator sought help from him as she was being forced into a car, which immediately disappeared.

“She called me twice. A male voice asked her who she was calling and ordered her to get into the car,” said Mr Kinuthia.

At the same time, a watchman at a neighbouring primary school said that he saw six men dressed in black enter Ms Mathenge’s home but did not suspect anything since she is an administrator.

“Since there was no commotion, I concluded they were people in need of administrative help and went back to my work.

After about 30 minutes, villagers started screaming,” said Mr John Miano, a watchman at DEB Solio Ranch Primary School.

Villages who spoke to the Nation said they were afraid that the incident could mark the beginning of a spate of abductions.

They asked the government to bring back the Administration Police officers who had been withdrawn two years ago.

“We are living in fear because if such an incident occurs, there is nowhere to report,” said Ms Margaret Wairimu, a villager.