Longton Brothers Recount 32-Day Ordeal of Abduction and Torture

Kenya – In a harrowing tale of survival, Jamil and Aslam Longton, alongside activist Bob Njagi, have come forward to detail their 32-day captivity after being abducted in Kitengela. The trio was seized on August 19, 2024, amidst anti-government protests, leading to widespread concern and legal action.

The brothers were taken from their home in Kitengela, Kajiado County, and subjected to brutal conditions. Jamil and Aslam described being blindfolded, handcuffed, and transported to an unknown location where they endured physical and psychological torture. They were given irregular meals, interrogated, and kept in a room that, according to them, also held others possibly of Somali origin.

The ordeal included being stripped naked, chained, and exposed to constant threats of death if they spoke to the media about their experiences. They were warned by their captors, which they allege to be police officers, to keep silent or face lethal consequences.

Their release came on September 20, 2024, coinciding suspiciously with the swearing-in of new Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja. The brothers were found in Kiambu’s Gachie area, having been “dumped” by their captors, after which they managed to charge their phones at a nearby home to contact their families.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has been vocal, demanding accountability and the immediate production of those still missing. Despite President William Ruto’s assurances against such acts, the abductions have sparked public outcry and protests across the nation, with trends on X highlighting the issue under hashtags like #EndAbductionsKE.

The Longton brothers, still recovering from their ordeal, have spoken about the physical and mental scars, urging for justice not only for themselves but for all those affected by similar human rights violations. The case remains under investigation, with calls for transparency and the cessation of abductions growing louder by the day.