Renowned political cartoonist Gideon Kibet, better known by his alias Kibet Bull, has emerged after a 12-day disappearance that began on Christmas Eve 2024.
In a televised interview following his release on Monday, Kibet expressed clear concerns about his safety and announced his intention to scale back his social media presence. He stated,
“After what happened, I have to minimise the activity on social media.”
However, he declined to provide details about his ordeal, saying simply,
“I cannot talk about it now.”
Kibet Bull, in his NTV interview, just confirmed to Kenyans that his purported abduction was false!! Listen to this.
— Antonellah Kakuko(The pastoralist Child). (@Truepastoralist) January 6, 2025
NTV guy: Ni nini kilifanyika kutoka siku ya kwanza? Iwapo…
Kibet Bull: For..sasa siezi ku.. nikazungumzia juu mmmh..false siezi zumgumzia.
Indeed, the truth… pic.twitter.com/tOKlYQZjOF
Also Read:
Billy Mwangi’s Father Discloses How Son Returned Home After Abduction
Circumstances of Release
According to Kibet’s post on X (formerly Twitter), he was left in Luanda, Vihiga County, in the early hours of Monday morning. He recounted,
“They dropped me in Luanda Vihiga at 3-4 am today. I did not know where to go or where to book a room.”
His release occurred alongside five other individuals who had similarly disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
They dropped me in Luanda Vihiga at 3-4AM Leo. Sikuwa najua where to enter or book a room. Kidogo form ya Disco Matanga came in, danced mpaka 6AM when I went to book a ticket
— Yoko (@Kibet_bull) January 6, 2025
Other Released Individuals
The other freed individuals included Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, Bernard Kavuli, and Rony Kiplangat. Each was found in different locations across Kenya.
Kiplangat was discovered in Machakos County, Kavuli in Kitale after being taken from Ngong, and Muteti in Nairobi’s CBD, with witnesses reporting him as disoriented. All have since made contact with their families.
Billy Mwangi also returned home in Embu in the morning of January 6th, 2025.
Legal and Political Response
The disappearances had prompted significant legal and political action. Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja had been summoned to appear in court on January 8 to explain the whereabouts of the missing persons.
Additionally, Director of Public Prosecutions Mulele Ingonga had set a January 1, 2025 deadline for police to report on their investigation into the alleged abductions.
The abductions sparked considerable public outrage, with human rights organizations condemning them as an attack on freedom of expression.
The timing of the releases coincided with planned protests by activists against forced disappearances and abductions, highlighting the growing concern over such incidents in Kenya.
