Judith Tebbtt: Britain’s detained lady-abducted in Kenya has released

A Briton grabbed in a raid in Kenya, in which her husband was executed, has been released after six months custody in Somalia.

Judith Tebbutt, 56, is being flown to Nairobi after a payoff, raised by her family members, was paid for her liberty.

As she left Adado in Somalia, Mrs Tebbutt, from Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, smiled and told newsmen she was very happy to be secured and protected.

Her husband David, 58, was gunshot by a gang of six men at their distant holiday resort in Kiwayu, north of Lamu island.

Mrs. Tebbutt, a societal worker, who is considered to be deaf and was wearing a double hearing aid, spoke to newsmen before boarding a flight to the Kenyan capital from Adado.

In Nairobi, she will be looked after by authorities from the British embassy before being flown back to the UK to be brought back together with friends and family members.

It is sure her son Oliver will be in the city to welcome her.

Mrs. Tebbutt was held on 11 September last year from Kiwayu Safari Village, a luxury route on a deserted stretch of Kenyan shoreline, encompassed of thatched cottages on the beach.

The couple had landed only the past day and was the only guests.

She was taken away in a speedboat, probably by Somali pirates, after Mr. Tebbutt had been murdered.

Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent said a private security company made safe her release, not British authorities.

He said it was not clear how much cash was involved, and illuminating the money was commonly put off to keep away from copy-cat gangs.

Paying the money was not illegitimate because it was not recognize to be going to a terrorist organization, he added.

"She will now become the main witness in the current murder inquiry of her husband David," our correspondent said.

East Africa correspondent Will Ross in Nairobi said the payment was paid in the last three days.

"The British government does not pay money it's against the proposal, but it surely doesn't appear to have stood in the way of the family protecting Judith Tebbutt's release," he said.

Police in Kenya said six gunmen had disintegrated into their room and officials considered that Mr. Tebbutt may have attempted to oppose the gang.

He worked in publishing and sat on the board of a book charity.

British police officers were sent to Kenya to help with the investigation.

The Somali government, which ruls only the capital, Mogadishu, and some other parts, said at the time that it considered the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group was backed the killings and kidnap.

The group itself rejected the allegations.