They Drove Me to Lang'ata - Machario Gaitho Speaks After Being Freed

Veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho has spoken out about his experience after being arrested inside Karen Police Station, only to be released moments later.

Speaking to the press on Wednesday, July 17, Gaitho disclosed that he was sandwiched between two men after being bundled into a Toyota Probox before being driven to Lang'ata road.

"I was sandwiched between two men in civilian clothes. I was handcuffed and I was assaulted. They were demanding to know why I was resisting arrest and I told them I was not resisting arrest, I was resisting criminals. They had not identified themselves. They drove me down Lang'ata road up to the turn of Lang'ata South road where they stopped.

"They made a few calls I don't know to who but I gathered they were talking to their superior. After some long conversations, they decided to turn back. We came with them while I was still handcuffed inside the car," Gaitho remarked.

The journalist intimated that when they got near the Karen Police station, they asked for his ID card before he decided to hand it to them.

"They said, 'you're the Francis Macharia Gaitho?' I said yes. One guy got out, made some phone calls, came back again and asked for my phone number. I refused to give it to him. After another long phone conversation, they came back and the guy at the back was asked to remove my handcuffs," he explained.

Gaitho then disclosed that he was told by the men holding him that it was a case of mistaken identity and he was free to leave.

However, he asserted that he refused to go home and reported an attempted abduction at the Karen Police Station and was waiting to write a statement.

Gaitho's remarks come after police claime 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," read a statement by NPS.