Veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho was released this morning following his abduction by armed policemen on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.
Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss Mohamed Amin attributed the forceful arrest to mistaken identity.
Gaitho was taken by force as he left his home in Karen, forced into a waiting Probox. The Nation columnist was accompanied by his son during the incident.
A brief video captured the moment three uniformed police officers and others in plain clothes roughed him up and pushed him into the car.
Reports suggest he was later taken to Karen Police Station.
“Yes, it’s true my father has been taken away. He was with my brother,” his daughter Waithera Gaitho revealed.
According to an announcement by the National Police Service on social media, the target of the arrest was blogger 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.”