The Kenya African National Union (KANU) party has confirmed the release of its digital communications officer Cornelius Ronoh.
In a statement, published on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, the party communicated that Ronoh who was abducted on Monday evening of October 7, 2024, in Fedha, Embakasi East in Nairobi County has been freed after being held incommunicado by his captor.
According to the party, Ronoh was found dumped around Kiambu Road and is currently undergoing a medical checkup.
“We can confirm that Cornelius K. Ronoh has been freed after being held incommunicado since last evening. He was dumped around Kiambu Road and is currently undergoing a medical checkup,” KANU states.
The party leadership further thanked all Kenyans of goodwill for their solidarity and support.
“We thank Kenyans for the solidarity and the support you have accorded us, “KANU’s statement reads.
Ronoh’s abduction
On Tuesday, October 8, 2024, KANU party Director of Communications Manasse Nyainda confirmed that Ronoh was kidnapped outside a barber shop he patronizes near Nyayo Gate B located within the Fedha area.
“We’ve received a report this morning that Cornelius Ronoh, who serves our party as a digital communications officer, was brazenly abducted last evening outside the barber shop he patronizes near Nyayo Gate B in Fedha, Embakasi East,” Nyainda confirmed.
Condemning his abduction, the party stated that Ronoh, who is an active commentator on political affairs within the country was targeted for his online commentary.
“Ronoh, an active digital political commentator, has become the newest victim of outright abductions of people civically engaged about the failure of the country’s public policy decisions,” Nyainda stated.
The party further stated that the kidnapping of people for articulating public policy issues affecting them through digital space to instil fear is unwarranted.
“The proliferation of gangland-style kidnappings of young people articulating public policy issues affecting them through digital spaces herald a grim future for the rule of law in this country. This desperate attempt to instil fear in the public and silence dissent is unwarranted, uncalled for, and has no place in our nation,” the party stated.
We can confirm that Cornelius K. Ronoh has been freed after being held incommunicado since last evening. He was dumped around Kiambu Road and is currently undergoing medical checkup. We thank Kenyans for the solidarity and the support you have accorded us and call on the… pic.twitter.com/OrsPjfUrRy
— The KANU Party (@KANUParty_ke) October 8, 2024