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A Kenyan doctor who was part of a United Nations medical evacuation mission in Somalia has made a public plea for help, saying he and his colleagues have been held captive by the militant group Al-Shabaab for more than a year and a half. In a video message shared recently, Dr. Ambrose Kimiti appealed directly to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Kenyan President William Ruto, and the people of Kenya, asking for urgent action to secure their release.
Dr. Kimiti explained that the ordeal began on January 10, 2024, when the helicopter carrying the UN medical evacuation team was forced to make an emergency landing in an area controlled by Al-Shabaab. According to his account, the aircraft was on an official humanitarian mission at the time of the incident. Shortly after the landing, members of the team were captured by the armed group and have remained in captivity ever since.
In the video, Dr. Kimiti spoke calmly but with visible concern, describing the prolonged detention as deeply distressing. He said that following the crash, the team believed that the United Nations would act quickly to address their situation. However, he claimed that despite attempts to communicate with the UN after the incident, no meaningful assistance or negotiations were initiated to secure their freedom.
“We believed we were serving a humanitarian cause,” Dr. Kimiti said, adding that the lack of progress toward their release has left the captives feeling abandoned. He emphasized that they were carrying out official duties under the UN’s mandate and therefore deserved protection and support from the organization. According to him, the silence and inaction have been particularly painful given the risks they accepted to help others in a conflict-affected region.
Dr. Kimiti urged UN Secretary-General António Guterres to intervene personally and take immediate steps to resolve the situation. He stressed that the UN has a moral and professional responsibility to protect its staff and contractors, especially those who are abducted while performing humanitarian work. He appealed for dialogue and concrete action, saying time has already been lost and the captives continue to suffer as days turn into months.
The Kenyan doctor also directed a heartfelt appeal to President William Ruto, asking him to use his office and international influence to help bring the hostages home. He said the Kenyan government’s involvement could play a crucial role in pushing for negotiations or other measures that might lead to their release. In addition, Dr. Kimiti called on the Kenyan public to keep their situation in mind and to support any efforts aimed at securing the freedom of the captives.
As of now, there has been no official response from either the United Nations or the Kenyan government regarding Dr. Kimiti’s appeal. The lack of public statements has raised questions among observers about what steps, if any, are being taken behind the scenes to address the situation.
Dr. Kimiti’s message comes shortly after a similar appeal by a Ukrainian pilot who was also captured in Somalia. The pilot was part of a UN-contracted aircraft crew that made a forced landing in territory controlled by Al-Shabaab. In his own message, the pilot called on both the United Nations and the Ukrainian government to open talks to secure the release of the remaining crew members still in captivity.
Together, these appeals highlight the ongoing dangers faced by humanitarian workers and contractors operating in high-risk environments. They also raise concerns about the protection mechanisms in place for those who serve under international mandates. For Dr. Kimiti and his colleagues, the hope is that speaking out publicly will finally prompt decisive action and lead to their safe return after a long and uncertain captivity.