Katra Abdulahi Mohamed is the daughter of a soldier currently held captive in Somalia by al Shabaab.
The family of a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldier, who was taken hostage during the Al Shabaab attack on January 15, 2016, at El Adde in Somalia, is urgently appealing to the government for assistance in securing his release.
Initially presumed dead following the attack, Abdulahi Issa Mohamed’s family was issued a death certificate. However, it has since been revealed that he is alive.
Mohamed is being held alongside his KDF colleague, Gerison Wanyonyi Wasike, who also appeared in a video confirming their survival and requesting government intervention for their release from al Shabaab.
The family learned of his survival after receiving a phone call and a video message from him, in which he earnestly sought help to return home.
Previously stationed at Moi Barracks in Eldoret, Mohamed had just arrived in Somalia with his unit for a security mission when their camp at El Adde was attacked.
Katra Ibrahim, his daughter, stated that her father has been in captivity for eight years, and they had lost all hope of his survival until she received an unexpected call last month.
After six years of mourning, the family had conducted burial rites, believing him to be deceased, and had obtained a death certificate for various official purposes.
“At first, I was taken aback when I received the call, but he introduced himself as my father. I recognized his voice immediately,” she recounted.
She mentioned that her father expressed a desire for assistance to return home, indicating that his captors were only willing to communicate with the government.
Katra then requested that he speak to his captors and arrange to send pictures or videos as proof of his existence.
“He informed me that the captors would soon provide video clips of him, and indeed, they later sent us a video of him pleading for help to return home,” Katra added.
The family expressed feelings of despair, likening their situation to that of orphans, but recent developments have instilled a renewed sense of hope.
“We had lost all hope and were living in a state of despair. My mother’s health has deteriorated as a result, and my two brothers have been grappling with depression. One of them even left home in a fit of frustration,” Katra explained.
She emphasized their urgent appeal to President William Ruto for assistance in bringing their father back home.
“The individuals holding him captive prefer to communicate with the government rather than the family. This is why we are earnestly requesting the president’s help,” she stated.
Katra expressed optimism that with the president’s intervention, their father would be released.
“We implore President Ruto to assist us in bringing my father home,” she added.
When her father managed to contact them, Katra reassured him that the government and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) had been supporting the family throughout his absence.
“We are grateful to God, the government, and the KDF for their unwavering support since his disappearance,” she remarked.
She noted their strong faith in God.
“As Muslims, we entrust everything to God. We had lost hope and feared he was dead, but it is through God’s grace that we remain thankful.”
Katra mentioned that the family had even conducted burial rites for him, believing he had passed away due to the lack of any evidence of his survival.
She acknowledged the state’s considerable support during this challenging time.
“They have been there for us, and we hold no one accountable, as he went missing while serving the country,” she said.
Katra conveyed their renewed hope that President Ruto would facilitate his release. The soldier is currently 61 years old.
“The government has provided us with physical, emotional, and financial support, which is why we firmly believe that the president and the people of Kenya will assist us,” she stated.
The family resides in Maili Nne, where neighbors, led by Sheikh Abu Kadir, expressed their joy upon learning on the eighth anniversary of his disappearance that the soldier is still alive.
