Veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho has been released moments after being abducted inside Karen police station.
According to her daughter Anita Gaitho, the journalist was roughed up by abductees who refused to identify themselves and took him away inside a Toyota Probox registration number KBC 725 J.
Gaitho was abducted after driving to Karen police station when he realised a car trailing him.
“I’m with my dad @MachariaGaitho. He’s just been brought to Karen police station by the car that abducted him. He’s safe although they roughed him up a bit. We’re making the abduction report right now,” Anita said in a statement on X on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.
“They claim to be DCl, they had guns and handcuffs and refused to identify themselves.”
In a statement, the National Police Service (NPS) claimed that Gaitho had been arrested following a case of mistaken identity, meant for the arrest of Francis Gaitho.
“The National Police Service would like to clarify to the public that this morning, we arrested journalist Macharia Gaitho in a case of mistaken identity, meant for the arrest of Francis Gaitho who is our subject of investigation,” NPS stated.
“We reiterate that as a Service, we do not target journalists in any way, and today’s incident is highly regrettable. The National Police Service remains committed to working with the media while discharging our mandate of promoting accountability and transparency.”
Police did not however reveal why Francis Gaitho is being sought.