Somali MPs survive abduction in Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya - Two Somalia members of the House of Representatives (MPs) survived an abduction on Wednesday in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, in an incident that could potentially trigger political wrangles in the country and possibly, a serious diplomatic tiff.

Ahmed Abdi alias Koshin and Hassan Abdinur are said to have survived abduction in Nairobi after they were blocked by a suspicious car moments after they stepped out of the one of hotels in the East African nation.

In a tweet on X (formerly Twitter), Ahmed Abdi confirmed the ordeal, terming it a politically 'motivated' incident, while calling for unbiased investigations and actions by authorities in the Republic of Kenya, a sisterly nation of Somalia.

"We are safe. Having endured a politically motivated act and a kidnapping against our will in Nairobi. Thanks for the support we received from colleagues within the parliament and Somali citizens. The truth will come out soon Insha Allah," he said in a tweet.

According to Ali Mohamed, a legislator who witnessed the incident, they were blocked as they left the hostel by a car with tinted windows. The ownership of the car is yet to be established, and neither have authorities in Nairobi confirmed the incident.

"Masked, armed men forcibly pulled Koshin and Hassan, while I narrowly managed to escape before they could apprehend me as well," he said, adding that his colleagues were harassed by the assailants but would later manage to escape 'unharmed'.

"This brazen kidnapping represents a horrific and frightening precedent that demands the strongest possible condemnation from both the Somali and Kenyan governments," added the legislator, while calling for immediate investigations into the incident.

The perpetrators must be swiftly identified and brought to justice. I implore both governments to work together to ensure the security and protection of Somali representatives traveling in, added the legislator.

Ali Said, another legislator in Somalia, linked the incident to the office of Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre. He claimed the officers were subjected to intense questioning before the attack, noting that they had been vocal about the misadventures of the government.

"The two politicians have been vocal in their criticism of the government's lack of performance and the alleged mismanagement of government resources," added the lawmaker, without giving evidence.

The Garowe Online could not immediately reach the office of Hamza Abdi Barre for comment at the time of publication. Kenya, where most Somali politicians stay, has not yet released any statement with regard to the matter.

The government of Somalia has lately been under pressure over what politicians term as a 'lack of commitment to service delivery'. However, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud believes his administration has done relatively well on matters of development and the fight against Al-Shabaab.

GAROWE ONLINE