In a shocking incident that gripped Nairobi, media personality Ciku Muiruri’s daughter, Erica Muiruri, and her friend, Shanice Agose, were held hostage for eight agonizing days. The ordeal began on June 4 when the duo requested a ride through the Bolt ridesharing app in Nairobi’s Westlands area. Little did they know that their lives were about to take a terrifying turn.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), upon entering the cab, the driver threatened the young women with a hammer and forcibly changed their destination. They were locked inside the car, unable to escape, and later discovered another man hiding in the boot.
Desperate to break free, Erica and Shanice tried to fight back but were viciously attacked by the captors. Erica endured blows to her head and leg from a hammer, while her friend suffered cuts on her hand as she bravely attempted to disarm one of the kidnappers who held a knife to her throat.
The kidnappers took the traumatized victims to Thika, where they were held captive in dismal conditions. Despite the distressing circumstances, the abductors provided them with food but demanded a ransom of 500,000 Kenyan shillings for their release. Threatening messages were sent to both Ciku Muiruri and Shanice’s mother, escalating the tension and fear.
Ciku Muiruri, in a heartfelt Facebook post, expressed her gratitude for the overwhelming support and prayers from friends and followers. She shared her belief that divine intervention played a role in her daughter’s safe return, particularly as the events unfolded during the Corpus Christi Novena celebrations, reinforcing her faith in the power of prayer and the presence of Christ.
On Sunday, June 11, a chilling message from the kidnapper warned of grave consequences if the ransom wasn’t paid. Undeterred, Ciku Muiruri responded with a powerful message, urging the captor to find solace and guidance in the words of the Bible.
The turning point came when DCI detectives located the hideout where the girls were being held captive. A call to Ciku Muiruri informed her of the rescue, bringing immense relief and joy to both families involved.
While expressing her gratitude for the safe return of her daughter and friend, Ciku Muiruri issued a warning to citizens relying on ride-hailing apps. The suspects revealed that multiple gangs operating in a similar manner were using the Bolt app to carry out their criminal activities. She cautioned users to exercise caution, particularly when using such services after midnight.
The authorities swiftly apprehended two suspects, Timothy Kiragu Ng’ang’a and Samuel Kipkurui, who are now in police custody. Bolt, the ridesharing company, responded to the incident by advising riders to remain vigilant and wary of individuals posing as registered drivers on their platform.
