Kenyan police have released veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho after mistakenly arresting him in a dramatic incident at a police station.
Gaitho, 65, reported being followed near his Nairobi home by individuals in two unidentified vehicles, prompting him and his 19-year-old son to seek refuge at a nearby police station.
However, he was forcibly taken away in a private vehicle, leading to public outcry and accusations of illegal abduction.
Authorities later clarified that Gaitho was apprehended due to mistaken identity, intended for another individual named Francis Gaitho, who is under investigation for discrediting police efforts in a murder case.
Despite the police assertion, Macharia Gaitho maintained there were stark differences between him and the intended suspect, emphasizing that he was targeted due to his journalistic work.
The incident, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, sparked outrage and renewed scrutiny of police conduct in Kenya, amid ongoing allegations of brutality and extrajudicial actions.
Gaitho, a prominent columnist for Kenya’s Daily Nation, announced plans to pursue legal action against the police.
The controversy comes amidst heightened tensions following anti-government protests and allegations of police targeting activists and journalists critical of the administration.
