Police Issue Statement After Macharia Gaitho Was Abducted Inside Karen Police Station

Veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho has been freed after he was abducted on Wednesday, July 17, at Karen Police Station.  

In an update by Machari Gaitho's daughter, Anita Gaitho, the father was brought back to the Karen Police Station by the car that abducted him.  

Ann disclosed that they would make an abduction report at the 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," she stated. 

In the video seen by Nairobileo.co.ke, Gaitho was arrested at Karen Police Station.

The journalist had driven to the station after noticing that an unknown vehicle was trailing him.

He was bundled into a white Probox vehicle inside the police station by individuals in civilian clothes as a couple of police officers in uniform stood by and watched.

Gaitho was in the company of his son during the incident.  

Police officers now claim that the arrest of the journalist was a case of mistaken identity and they were looking for Francis Gaitho. 

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

"The National Police Service remains committed to working with the media while discharging our mandate of promoting accountability and transparency," the statement by the police reads.