District Officer Yesse Mule Edward and immigration ministry employee Fredrick Irungu Wainaina, held captive by al-Shabaab since January 2012, were re-united with their families Thursday (August 1st) at the Ministry of Interior and Co-ordination of National Government.

The Kenyan government announced Edward's and Wainana's release Tuesday, days after the families of several Kenyan hostages called on the government for help.

Kenya did not pay ransom for the release, said Secretary of Interior and Co-ordination of National Government Joseph Ole Lenku, according to Kenya's Capital FM. "I can assure you it was just negotiations," he said.

"We will continue to support them, including counselling them to ensure they get back to their normal life," Lenku said. "Once all that is done, we will post them to work at a station of their choice."

Edward recounted his abduction from Kenya's north-eastern border, during which six Kenyans were killed and three injured.

"The journey to Somalia started there but I can also say that is when the journey to freedom started," he said, according to Kenya's Daily Nation. "We were always blindfolded and bound in chains. I realised that as long as you are breathing you should never lose hope, anything else like a bath is just luxury."

Two other Kenyans, Sergeant Jonathan Kangogo and Corporal Evans Mutoro, are believed to still be in al-Shabaab custody.