February 23, 2016: There were celebrations at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after a Kenyan herbal doctor returned home after he had been held captive by al Shabaab pirates in Somalia for 15 months.
James Gashamba was kidnaped alongside his associate in Adado town in November 2014 as they continued with their business of selling herbal medicine.
Gashamba was rescued after security forces raided the abductors’ hideout and rescued the herbal doctor. Upon being rescued the doctor revealed that they had lived in caves and the forest since his abduction.
Further, he disclosed that his abductors have direct links with al Shabaab and are responsible for massive kidnappings on the border tons of Wajir, Mandera and Garissa. The kidnapping cartel is responsible kidnappings of teachers, police officers and residents.
Al Shabaab has been conducting kidnappings with the aim of leveraging them for their prisoners or supplies they need. The kidnapping cartels have been dismantled by AMISOM forces in a bid to cut off the resources supply.
