Kenyan abducted in Ethiopia freed after Sh3 million ransom, flown home
Mbugua, who served as a plant manager at Ardash Glass Company, was kidnapped at his workplace in Debre Berhan, in the Amhara region, about 120 kilometres from Addis Ababa, where he had been stationed for two years.
A Kenyan, Samuel Njagi Mbugua, who was reportedly abducted from his workplace in Ethiopia on October 28, 2025, has been safely released and flown back home, the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary (OPCS) has confirmed.
According to OPCS, Mbugua’s employer paid a ransom of about Sh3 million to secure his release after days of difficult negotiations involving the Ethiopian government, the Kenyan embassy in Addis Ababa, his company, and family.
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Mbugua, who served as a plant manager at Ardash Glass Company, was kidnapped at his workplace in Debre Berhan, in the Amhara region, about 120 kilometres from Addis Ababa, where he had been stationed for two years.
Following his abduction, the Kenyan Embassy immediately reported the incident to the Ethiopian authorities and began working closely with Ardash Glass Company and Mbugua’s family to facilitate his release.
“Immediately he was kidnapped, the Kenyan Embassy in Ethiopia reported the matter to the authorities and has extended its support with the Ardash Glass Company and family, who have been negotiating for his release,” OPCS stated.
Mbugua was flown back to Kenya on Tuesday night and arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 1:40 am on Wednesday, November 5, where he was reunited with his family.
"We are deeply relieved to announce that Samuel Njagi Mbugua, who was abducted on Tuesday, October 28th, 2025, at his workplace in Ethiopia, has been safely released and reunited with his family after arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi," said OCPS.
"We thank God for his safe return. As a government, we remain committed to supporting Mbugua and his family as they recover from this traumatic ordeal, and to ensuring that the welfare and safety of Kenyans working abroad remain a top priority in our diplomatic engagement."
This development comes just months after Stephen Munyakho, another Kenyan, was released from prison in Saudi Arabia after a Sh129 million compensation payment was made to the family of a man killed in a manslaughter case.
Munyakho, who had been sentenced to death, was freed and returned to Kenya on July 22, 2025.
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