
Dela Ward MCA Yussuf Hussein. Photo credit/ The Standard
By Newsflash Reporter
Wajir County Assembly Minority Leader, Yussuf Ahmed Hussein, who vanished in Nairobi almost six months ago, has resurfaced, revealing that he was detained in the same facility as three Kitengela activists.
The Dela Ward MCA unexpectedly arrived at his home in Eastleigh, Nairobi, around 11 PM on Saturday night, carrying a Quran. His sudden return shocked his family. “His wife immediately called us, and we confirmed it was indeed him,” said his cousin, Elyas Abdille. It remains unclear how he made it home, but reports suggest that unidentified individuals, believed to be his captors, dropped him off in Eastleigh.
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“He mentioned that for the first two months, he was held at a location in Nairobi alongside several others before being transferred to another undisclosed place. We still don’t know who left him in Eastleigh because he entered the house alone,” Abdille explained.
MCA detained near other victims
A relative, speaking anonymously, disclosed that Hussein had been imprisoned in a room adjacent to activist Bob Njagi, as well as brothers Jamil and Nadhif Longton.
“He told us he was locked up next to Bob Njagi. Though in separate rooms, he could hear Njagi’s screams,” the source revealed.
Hussein was abducted on September 13, 2024, along Enterprise Road in Nairobi’s Industrial Area, roughly a month after Njagi and the Longton brothers were kidnapped. His testimony aligns with Njagi’s previous account, where he claimed to have seen the MCA in captivity. While speaking on JKLive on February 6, Njagi stated, “I sometimes joke about this, but I clearly remember seeing the Wajir MCA in the next room. I peeped through a keyhole and saw him.”
MCA released under mysterious circumstances
On Saturday evening, Hussein was unexpectedly freed. His captors, suspected to be members of Kenya’s security forces, dropped him off at Pangani shopping center around 9:30 PM and handed him Sh5,000 for transport.
“They warned him not to look back, so he never saw their faces,” a source disclosed.
Leaders demand answers
Hussein’s release has sparked reactions from political leaders. Eldas MP Adan Keynan expressed gratitude for his relative’s safe return but condemned the abduction. Mandera Senator Ali Roba voiced concern over Hussein’s deteriorating health, while Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi acknowledged the emotional toll of his disappearance.
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“For months, the people of Wajir endured anxiety, prayers, and hope for his return,” Abdullahi tweeted.
Wajir Woman Representative Fatuma Abdi Jehow also thanked God for his safety.
The leaders have now urged the government to ensure an end to enforced disappearances, emphasizing the importance of protecting citizens’ rights following the recent political agreement between President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga.