Family appeals for return of kidnapped university student
Mercy Awuor Gache (left), a student at the University of Nairobi, Kisumu campus, who is said to have been kidnapped on Friday evening, November 27, 2015. Her father, George Gache (right) has appealed to the captors to release her. PHOTOS | TONNY OMONDI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- She had earlier sent a message to her mother saying she was on her way home.
- Later, a man called using her phone and said the they had kidnapped her, said Mr Gache.
- The captors did not ask for any ransom or any make any other demand as Mercy’s phone was switched off immediately.
- Mercy’s lecturer Dr Raphael Nyonje said the institution would help in investigtions.
A family in Kisumu is looking for their 20-year-old daughter who was allegedly kidnapped on Friday evening.
Mercy Awuor Gache, a student at the University of Nairobi, Kisumu campus, is said to have been waylaid while heading to the bus station after her evening classes.
Her father, Mr George Gache, said his daughter had written a message to her mother saying she had finished her class and was on her way home, only to be called later by a man using Mercy’s phone who said they had kidnapped her.
“As usual, Mercy texted her mother at 7:56pm saying she was on her way.
“When I got home at around 9pm, she had not yet arrived and did not answer her phone,” said Mr Gache, a pastor at Covenant of Peace Church.
Later, a man called using her phone, said Mr Gache.
“He said, “We are with your girl. We got hold of her when she was approaching the bus stage and we will communicate tomorrow,” and disconnected the call,” said the distraught father.
NO RANSOM DEMANDS
When Mr Gache called again, the man repeated the same statement and disconnected before he could ask what they needed for them to release Mercy.
The captors did not ask for any ransom or any make any other demand as Mercy’s phone was switched off immediately.
“Mercy usually gets home between 7:30pm and 8:30pm and when she goes beyond that, I pick her myself.
“It’s really traumatising when a disciplined girl disappears yet I know it’s not her routine,” said the father.
Mercy’s lecturer Dr Raphael Nyonje described her as a disciplined, thorough girl who had been made a class representative.
She is undertaking a degree in project planning and management.
“We got information about her disappearance and we will help in the investigations.
“We will interview friends from her class and those who saw her leave on Friday,” said Dr Nyonje.
The family has reported the matter to the police.
