Police abducted senior journalist Macharia Gaitho instead of GoK critic Francis Gaitho
Adhis Okena
— July 22, 2024 
Instead of Francis Gaitho, whom the DCI is pursuing, police have taken senior journalist Macharia Gaitho hostage.
Francis Gaitho is now on the run, and DCI is searching everywhere for him. Francis Gaitho has been vocal on X Space, calling out the government directly and, in a certain tone, saying that the government is angry with him.
While senior journalist Macharia Gaitho bundled him into a Probox while he was inside the Karen police station, Gaitho, according to his son, drove into the Karen police station when he noticed a Subaru following them. Gaitho is a strong GOK critic.
DCI has returned. Journalist Macharia Gaitho arrived at the Karen police station in the same car that had abducted him this morning.
A case of mistaken identity. Francis Gaitho, a digital activist, is the person they are tracking to arrest. The police roughed up the veteran journalist.
Police statement on the arrest of journalist Macharia Gaitho: “It is a case of mistaken identity. We reiterate that, as a service, we do not target journalists in any way, and today’s incident is highly regrettable.”
The police have confirmed that they are searching for Francis Gaitho, who is the subject of their investigations.
PUBLIC CLARIFICATION ON MISTAKEN ARREST OF MACHARIA GAITHO
— National Police Service-Kenya (@NPSOfficial_KE) July 17, 2024