Businessman Jaswant Singh Rai Released Days After Abduction

Jaswant Singh Rai, who was kidnapped in broad daylight by armed men near the crossroads of Wood Avenue and Lenana Road, has been released.

The businessman was "released" by people who kidnapped him on Friday, according to his lawyer, Kioko Kilukumi.

On Friday evening, at about 5:30 p.m., CCTV footage captured a Toyota Landcruiser V8 driving down Wood Avenue. Ten seconds later, a double cab pick-up was observed speeding and overlapping before blocking the Toyota Landcruiser at Wood Avenue and Lenana Road intersection.

Three armed men disembarked and went straight to the driver's door. They forced through the door and took the driver alone in the car before loading him into their car and speeding away. The car was left at the location, and other drivers could be seen passing it.

The abducted individual was later identified as industrialist Jaswant Rai, Chairman of the Rai Group of Companies, which owns West Kenya Sugar Company.

The Kilimani Sub-County Police Commander, Moss Ndiwa, acknowledged to Citizen TV that his officers received a complaint of a vehicle abandoned along the road more than an hour after the abduction and that the vehicle was towed to the station.

Ndiwa also stated that a member of Rai's family had filed a missing person complaint at the station on Saturday, the day Rai went missing.

The police commander also denied that officers were engaged in the kidnapping...

The latest instance came barely one month after a businessman with interests in cement production, edible oils, and sawmilling was arrested and questioned upon his return to the nation from overseas on suspicion of hindering the rebirth of Mumias Sugar Company.

President William Ruto linked the businessman to a group of cartels he accused of sabotaging the government's plans to reform the industry and vowed to confront them head-on.

"Kwa hivyo msikuwe na wasiwasi niko hapo chonjo kabisa nitahakikisha hii kitu inakaa chonjo na wakora wote wako hapo katikati msikuwe na wasiwasi kuna mtu atakuja kutuongelesha kiingereza hapa sijui mhindi fulani sijui nani ni nani, mwengine ananiambia Rai, Rai ni nani hapana hiyo haiwezekani hiyo No hii ni mali ya wananchi na hatuezi kukubali mtu ambaye ata take advantage of people in this region," President Ruto said.