Veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho was on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, abducted inside Karen police station where he had driven to after noticing suspicious people in a Subaru of registration number KCB 847F, trailing him.

Macharia Gaitho roughed up

Gaitho was, however, followed to the police station by the unknown people, who roughed him up and bundled him in a waiting probox, and drove away with him as police officers at Karen Police Station watched.

The incident was captured on camera by Gaitho’s son who was with him at the time they were being trailed.

Macharia Gaitho released

After the video went viral on social media and caught the attention of the media, the veteran journalist was set free.

The probox which bears the registration details of KBC 725J that had driven away with him went back to Karen Police Station, dropped him and drove away.

Macharia Gaitho’s daughter Anita Gaitho has since confirmed the release of her father.

She says they have filed an abduction report at the police station.

“I’m with my dad Macharia Gaitho. 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.

Anita has also stated that the abductors of her father had guns and handcuffs but refused to identify themselves while forcefully making the arrest.

Mistaken identity

She further notes that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has confirmed that indeed the abductors were their officers, and that the arrest was as a result of a mistaken identity.

“The DCIO here have confirmed that the abductors are indeed their own DCI. They claim that it is a case of mistaken identity. They’re trying to make it difficult for us to make the report, asking us to go make it at DCI headquarters. They want us to report them to themselves?” she stated.