Macharia Gaitho hits back at police over 'mistaken identity arrest' claim

By Peter Ochieng 

Veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho has hit back at police, after the National Police Service (NPS) in a statement claimed that his arrest on Wednesday morning was a case of mistaken identity.

Gaitho was bundled in a probox and driven to unknown destination after taking cover at Karen Police Station.

He sought refuge at the Station, after noticing a vehicle trailing him and his son as they left their home.

Shockingly, he was bundled in a probox by people in plain clothes, in the full glare of uniformed police officers.

The journalist was later taken back to the station, with NPS subsequently issuing a statement claiming it was a case of mistaken identity, adding that they were after Francis Gaitho, the social media influencer.

Addressing the press at Karen Police Station, Macharia Gaitho said he is certain that his arrest was connected to his job as the Daily Nation columnist.

"That Francis Gaitho, they claim they are looking for, I am twice his age. He does not live where I live because they trailed me from my home, as far as I know. He does not drive the same car as me. It is me they were looking for, it is me they were trailing," said Gaitho.

"They forced me into their car, a white probox. I was sandwiched between two men in civilian clothes. I was handcuffed and I was assaulted," he added.

As they drove him along Lang'ata road, Gaitho said the officers claimed he was resisting arrest, which sounded ironical since he had earlier driven into a police station.

"I told them I was not resisting arrest, I was resisting criminals. I could hear them uttering words like Alpha, Bravo, Sierra, I don't know what those mean but I heard they mentioned DCI headquarters."

The officers decided to turn back after checking his ID and having a long phone call with one of their superiors.

"We came with them I was still handcuffed in the car. We stopped here near the Shell petrol station and that is the time they asked for my ID and I gave it to them."

"One guy got out made some phone calls came back again and asked for my phone numbers. I refused to give him. They had previously asked for my phone also which I did not have with me because I had left it with my son," stated Gaitho.

The Editors Guild is among bodies which have strongly condemned the incident.

Journalists will carry out countrywide protests on Wednesday next week,  over increased cases of police brutality targeting members of the press.