For six agonising months, Dela Ward MCA Yussuf Ahmed Tolfiyow Hussein had vanished without a trace, leaving behind a community burdened with questions and anxiety.

It was not until March 8, when he was dropped off at his residence in Eastleigh, Nairobi, by unknown individuals. The circumstances surrounding his abduction and return remain shrouded in mystery.

According to his cousin, Elyas Abdille, Yussuf remained blindfolded until he was abandoned in Nairobi’s Pangani area, where his abductors uncovered his eyes and told him, “Hapa ndio kwako” (You’re back home), before leaving him behind.

Abdille, who is the MCA for Rhamu Dimtu Ward in Mandera County, recounted that Yussuf then walked into the home of his first wife, carrying a Quran.

“At first, his wife was shocked when she opened the door. She couldn’t believe it was really him standing there. Once she confirmed it was Yussuf, several calls were made, and relatives soon thronged the house,” Abdille said.

Though appearing sober, Yussuf looked frail, prompting a decision to rush him to Nairobi Hospital.

“He seemed jovial but frail. He recognised everyone in the house, but he was not ready to talk about his ordeal. When we took him to the hospital, authorities requested that we allow him to rest and undergo medical examinations,” Abdille added.

Yussuf’s return came just days before his seat was to be declared vacant—a timing that has fuelled speculation about a possible political motive behind his abduction.

“Had he not returned by March 12, his seat would have been declared vacant. He came back just in time to save it,” Abdille noted.

He also urged those behind the abductions to release other missing individuals.

“In the hospital, we have seen so many families crying, asking him whether he had seen their kinsmen. If they are still being held incommunicado, we plead with those responsible to release them as well,” he added.

Even as the community celebrates Yussuf’s return, a shadow of unanswered questions remains. Who abducted him? Why was he released now? And what about the other missing persons whose families continue to wait for closure?

His family, political allies, and locals are tirelessly seeking answers regarding his abduction, which mirrors other similar cases in recent times.

Eldas Member of Parliament Adan Keynan, who is also Yussuf’s relative, expressed relief over his safe return but noted that he appeared frail.

“Last night (Friday), at around 9 pm, he was dropped outside his residence in Pangani by masked individuals—the same way he was taken,” Keynan stated.

He added that the family would release more details regarding Yussuf’s disappearance and return at a later date.

“The issue of abduction is one of the topical issues in our national political discourse. Yusuf is alive and going through a serious medical checkup, you can imagine someone who has been abducted for six months,” he said.

 Wajir Senator Abdullahi Ali Roba expressed deep concern over Yussuf’s physical condition. “He looks extremely malnourished and frail. The doctors are still assessing him, and we don’t know the full extent of what he endured,” he said.

The disappearance of the MCA had sparked widespread outrage, leading to a petition filed in court.

On January 22, Milimani High Court Judge Chacha Mwita had ordered Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to disclose the whereabouts of the MCA within 14 days. Despite the order, no clarity had been provided by the police or investigative agencies. 

Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi who is also the Chairperson of the Council of Governors, spoke of the emotional toll the abduction had taken on the community.

“His disappearance left the people of Dela and Wajir in deep distress. Today, we celebrate his safe return with immense gratitude. Our thoughts are with him as he embarks on the journey of healing,” he said.

Wajir Woman Representative Fatuma Jehow echoed similar sentiments, reiterating the immense relief among the people.

“This is a huge wave of relief. Every Wajirian, especially the people of Eldas, carried this burden with us. We now pray for his recovery,” she said.

The MCA was abducted on September 13 along Enterprise Road in Nairobi. A month later, a body was retrieved in Lake Yahud in the outskirts of Wajir town, which was believed to be of the missing MCA. However, two DNA tests on the body turned negative. 

Soon after he was abducted, all 47 County Assemblies threatened to suspend House sittings until their colleague was found.