Macharia Gaitho: Police issue 'regret' statement over arrest

By Peter Ochieng

Veteran journalists Macharia Gaitho is free, moments after being arrested by police officers on Wednesday morning.

The National Police Service (NPS) in a statement confirmed the arrest of the Daily Nation columnist, in what it termed as a case of mistaken identity.

NPS said the police are interested in one Francis Gaitho, who is a subject of investigations.

Francis Gaitho is a vocal commentator on political issues, with most of his comments being shared on the X platform.

In a statement, the NPS sought to clarify that it does not target journalists in any way.

"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 said.

"We reiterate that as a Service, we do not target journalists in any way, and today's incident is highly regrettable."

Macharia Gaitho was arrested on Wednesday morning at Karen Police Station. He was with his son.

They had gone to take cover, after noticing a vehicle trailing them as they left home.

At the police station, as seen in a video widely circulated online, the veteran journalist was bundled into a probox by people in plain clothes under the full glare of uniformed police officers.

The vehicle then left the station. Anita Gaitho, his daughter said his father was driven back to the station in the same vehicle that initially sped off with 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," she said in a post on X.

The incident comes a day after Catherine Kariuki, Kameme TV reporter was shot thrice in the thigh while covering protests in Nakuru on Tuesday.