NAIROBI, KENYA – A Kenyan executive, Samuel Njagi Mbugua, has been freed and returned to Kenya after being held captive for a week in Ethiopia, a release secured by a multi-million shilling ransom payment. His abduction in the conflict-ridden Amhara region casts a harsh spotlight on the growing dangers faced by Kenyan professionals and companies operating in a country grappling with internal strife.

Mr. Mbugua, a plant manager for Ardash Glass Company, was abducted by unidentified assailants at his workplace in Debre Berhan, a town approximately 120 kilometres northeast of Addis Ababa, on Tuesday, 28 October 2025, EAT. After what government officials described as “difficult negotiations,” his employer paid a ransom of about KSh 3 million (equivalent to 3 million Ethiopian Birr) to secure his freedom.

He was flown back to Kenya, arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at approximately 1:40 AM on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, where he was reunited with his family. The Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary confirmed the release, stating it followed a coordinated effort by the Ethiopian Government, the Kenyan Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ardash Glass Company, and Mr. Mbugua's family.

“We are deeply relieved to announce that Mr. Samuel Njagi Mbugua...has been safely released,” the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s office stated on Wednesday. President William Ruto also confirmed the release, noting the government's diplomatic engagement in the matter.

A Region in Turmoil

Mr. Mbugua’s abduction occurred against a backdrop of severe instability in the Amhara region. Since April 2023, the area has been engulfed in an insurgency, with fierce fighting between the federal government and the ethno-nationalist Fano militia. The conflict has led to a dire human rights crisis, with widespread civilian casualties, mass arrests, and the declaration of a state of emergency. Human Rights Watch, in its 2025 World Report, detailed serious abuses by all parties in the conflict.

Kidnapping for ransom has become a burgeoning criminal enterprise in both the Amhara and Oromia regions. Armed groups and criminal gangs increasingly use abductions to fund their operations, targeting civilians, students, and workers. A study in the African Journal of Crime and Justice noted a 500 percent increase in such incidents between 2020 and 2021, with the trend continuing to grow. Foreign workers and companies have not been immune, with abductions of Chinese and other nationals reported.

The security situation has prompted several countries, including the UK and the US, to issue stringent travel advisories against all travel to the Amhara region. In August 2023, the Kenyan Embassy in Addis Ababa cautioned its citizens to avoid movement in insecure areas following the declaration of the state of emergency.

Implications for Kenya and Regional Security

The incident underscores the significant risks for the growing number of Kenyan professionals and businesses expanding into Ethiopia, a key trading partner. While Ethiopia’s labour laws offer protections to foreign workers, the deteriorating security situation in conflict zones poses a direct threat that diplomatic assurances alone cannot mitigate.

The abduction comes at a critical time for Kenya-Ethiopia relations. In late September 2025, the two nations signed a landmark Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) in Addis Ababa. The pact aims to deepen collaboration on intelligence sharing, joint military training, counter-terrorism, and border security to address precisely the kind of transnational threats that fuel instability.

Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Chief of General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, and General Charles Muriu Kahariri, Kenya's Chief of Defence Forces, hailed the agreement as a strategic framework to enhance regional peace and stability. The successful resolution of Mr. Mbugua's kidnapping through official channels, while involving a private ransom payment, may be seen as an early, informal test of this renewed commitment to bilateral security cooperation.

However, the reliance on a ransom payment also highlights the limits of state intervention once a citizen is captured, particularly in areas with diminished government control. For Kenyan firms operating in Ethiopia and the wider East Africa region, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for robust security protocols, risk assessments, and contingency planning for their expatriate staff. The Kenyan government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the welfare and safety of its citizens working abroad remains a top diplomatic priority.