NAIROBI, Kenya- Veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho says police trailed him from his home, prompting him to seek help at Karen Police Station.
But even with that, the plainclothes police officers abducted him from the police station.
“I was handcuffed and assaulted,” Gaitho said after he was released.
Director of Criminal Investigations Mohammed Amin said it was a case of mistaken identity.
“We went to Karen Police Station to look for help, then two cars followed us, and they forced me inside a white Probox,” he narrated of his ordeal.
“ I was sandwiched between two men in civilian clothes, handcuffed and assaulted. They were demanding to know why I was resisting arrest.”
Gaitho has decried the increasing cases of abductions in the country, targeting individuals seen as critical against President William Ruto’s led administration.
This amidst growing calls for reforms by the youth and specifically GenZs, who have also called for the President’s resignation.
“I am not the first media person to be abducted or arrested. It is clear that all these incidents are connected, and the police are operating outside the law to harass and intimidate innocent Kenyans,” he said.
Despite his abduction, he said the police officers did not, “explain how it could be a case of mistaken identity and followed me from my home. In my opinion, they were criminals. I have reported an attempted abduction at Karen Police Station.”
