NAIROBI, Kenya July 17 – Veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho was on Wednesday released following an arrest in a case of mistaken identity.
Video footage online captured the dramatic arrest, showing the seasoned journalist being roughed up by police before being taken to Karen police station.
The National Police Service (NPS) later clarified that they had mistaken Macharia Gaitho for a blogger named Francis Gaitho who is being sought after and “is our subject of investigation.”
The police expressed regret over the incident, stating that they do not target journalists.
“Today’s incident is highly regrettable,” the service said in a post.
They acknowledged the crucial role of the media in promoting accountability and transparency, highlighting the importance of their partnership.
“The service remains committed to working with the media,” the service added.
Anita Gaitho also confirmed her father’s arrest and subsequent release.
“He’s safe although they roughed him up a bit. We’re making the abduction report,” she said.
The police have recently made errors resulting in cases of mistaken identity, prompting criticism from Kenyans regarding their diligence in conducting due process before taking action.
In July 2024, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) issued an apology to another Kenyan identified as Dennis Basweti.
The police had mistakenly listed him as a wanted person in connection with the violent protests that saw some protestors storm Parliament on June 25, 2024.
