A Kenyan cabinet secretary, Justin Muturi, has accused the National Intelligence Service (NIS) of abducting his son last year. Muturi, who is the Public Service Cabinet Secretary, alleged that NIS director-general Noordin Haji was behind the abduction and only released his son after President William Ruto intervened.

This is the first time a high-ranking government official has publicly criticized the government's handling of the spate of abductions in Kenya. At least 80 people have been abducted in the last six months, according to a state-funded rights group.

Muturi said that he had reached out to top security officials after his son, Leslie, was abducted in June last year, but none of them were able to help. He said that he eventually went to President Ruto's residence and told him that he believed NIS was holding his son.

Muturi said that the president then made a call to the head of the intelligence agency and instructed him to release Leslie immediately. Muturi's son was released shortly afterwards.

Some government-allied politicians have called for Muturi to resign for publicly criticizing the government.

Foreign nationals have also been abducted in Kenya, including prominent Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai. Last year, Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was allegedly abducted in Nairobi by Ugandan security officials.

A Kenyan government minister has alleged that the country's national intelligence agency was behind the abduction of his son last year, as criticism against the rising cases of abductions continues.

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi said that it took a call by President William Ruto to have his son released by the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

Muturi is the first member of the cabinet to publicly criticise the government's handling of the spate of abductions in Kenya.

In a statement to the police crime investigations unit on Tuesday, Muturi gave a detailed account of how his son, Leslie, was abducted on 22 June last year.