A Kenyan government minister has claimed that the country's national intelligence agency was behind the abduction of his son last year, as criticism of rising kidnappings continues.
State Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi said it took a call from President William Ruto to release his son from the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
Muturi is the first cabinet member to publicly criticize the government's handling of Kenya's kidnapping spree.
In a statement to the police's Criminal Investigation Department on Tuesday, Muturi gave a detailed account of how his son Leslie was abducted on June 22 last year.
Mr Ruto and the intelligence agency have not commented on his claims.
At least 80 people, including the minister's son, have been kidnapped in the past six months, according to a state-funded human rights group.
The wave of kidnappings began after protests against tax hikes in June last year and has continued ever since.
Some of the abductees were released after public pressure.
Earlier this week, the minister told journalists that he had received no answers about his son's abduction despite contacting senior security officials.
Muturi said the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) subsequently urged him to record a statement with them, telling him the matter was still under investigation.
In his statement to DCI Muturi recalled calling the Inspector General of Police, the Home Secretary, the head of the DCI, the head of the Intelligence Agency and other senior officials as he desperately searched for his son – but, he added, all were unable to help.
He said he also sent a message to Ruto but later decided to visit his official residence to raise the matter directly with him.
“I then recounted (the president's) ordeal, including my interactions with various senior government officials who were unable to help. I have expressed my belief that the NIS is holding my son,” Muturi said in the statement.
He said the president joked about it and then called the head of the intelligence agency, who promised to release his son in an hour.
“I heard the president ask (NIS director) Noordin Haji if he is holding my son. (He) confirmed that he is indeed holding my son and the president instructed him to immediately release Leslie,” Muturi added.
Muturi has faced calls from some politicians allied to the government to resign over public criticism of the government he serves.
Foreign nationals have also been abducted, including prominent Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai, who on Monday described how she was abducted by gunmen and released several hours later.
Last year, Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was abducted in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, allegedly by Ugandan security officials, and taken across the border for trial by a military court.