Director of Criminal Investigation Mohamed Amin has clarified that the arrest of veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho was a case of mistaken identity. Gaitho was taken into custody on Wednesday morning at Karen Police Station.
“We apologize to Gaitho. It was a case of mistaken identity,” Amin stated, explaining that they were actually searching for another individual who shares the same name.
Gaitho’s daughter confirmed that her father was returned to Karen Police Station in the same vehicle he was initially taken away in. “I’m with my dad @MachariaGaitho. He’s just been brought to Karen police station by the car that abducted him,” Anita Gaitho tweeted. “He’s safe although they roughed him up a bit. We’re making the abduction report right now.”
Gaitho and his son were intercepted by a Subaru as they left home, after which Gaitho drove to Karen Police Station, where he was forcibly taken into custody. A video captured by his son shows Gaitho being pushed into a white Probox inside the station by individuals in plain clothes, in the presence of police officers.
