Al-Shabaab Releases Video of Kenyan UN Worker Pleading for Help

Al-Shabaab has released a video showing Kenyan United Nations worker Ambrose Kimiti pleading for help from the UN Secretary-General, President William Ruto, and the Kenyan public.

In the video, seen by Kahawa Tungu, Kimiti said he has been held captive by the militant group for more than one and a half years.

“To UN Secretary General António Guterres, and to the President of the Republic of Kenya Dr. William Samoe Ruto, and the people of Kenya: My name is Ambrose Kimiti, a Kenyan medic working with the United Nations Mission supporting Somalia as part of its aeromedical evacuation team. I speak to you today as a captive held by Al-Shabaab together with my medical evacuation team members for more than one and a half years,” he said.

Kimiti explained that their helicopter crashed on January 10, 2024, inside Al-Shabaab territory during a medical evacuation mission. He said that despite attempts to communicate with the UN after the crash, no support or negotiation efforts were made on their behalf.

“I believed we are serving for a good cause, but the United Nations let us down,” he said.

He called on the UN Secretary-General to intervene and secure their release, saying: “We were sent here by the United Nations to provide medical assistance and humanitarian support. The United Nations has a duty to secure the release of its contractors taken captive during the course of their work. I urge you, Mr. Secretary-General, to secure our release as soon as possible.”

Kimiti also appealed to President Ruto to use his influence to help negotiate their freedom and urged Kenyans to speak out in support.

At the time of reporting, neither the UN nor the Kenyan government had issued a response.