Veteran Nation Media Editor Macharia Gaitho Abducted at Karen Police Station

A screenshot of the journalist's abduction (left) and veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho.
A screenshot of the journalist's abduction (left) and veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho.
Photo
Kenyans.co.ke

UPDATE: Nation Editor Macharia Gaitho's daughter, Anita, confirmed that the police returned the abducted veteran journalist to Karen Police Station.

She further added that the family recorded 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," Anita shared.

"They claim to be DCl, they had guns and handcuffs and refused to identify themselves."


UPDATE: Shortly after the arrest of Veteran Editor Macharia Gaitho on Wednesday morning, Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohammed Amin told the press that his arrest was a case of mistaken identity.

The editor had been arrested after driving to Karen Police Station.


Veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho, currently attached to Nation Media Group, was abducted at Karen Police Station while in the company of his son.

Gaitho was traveling in the company of his son when he noticed a car trailing them.

The duo then drove to Karen Police Station where the son is said to have recorded a video of plain-clothed individuals abducting the veteran editor and bundling him into a waiting car.

The entire operation was overseen by uniformed police officers, as per the video making rounds in journalists' circles.

Daily Nation columnist Macharia Gaitho
Daily Nation columnist Macharia Gaitho.
Twitter

Further reports further indicated that after the abduction, the veteran editor was driven to an unknown place and his whereabouts remain unknown.

The motive of the abduction is yet to be determined even as journalists, a majority of whom worked with Gaitho, called for his immediate release.

"Very disturbing reports that veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho has been arrested," Paul Wafula, a former lead editor at Business Daily, shared. Bridgettes Ngana, a reporter at NTV, appended her voice under the hashtag, #FreeMachariaGaitho.

The abduction came as journalists called upon the police to stop harassing reporters, especially those covering the ongoing protests.

On Tuesday, police officers shot and injured Kameme TV Journalist Catherine Wanjeri covering protests along Kenyatta Avenue in Nakuru.

She was shot three times in the left thigh and was rushed to the hospital by her colleagues.

In a subsequent statement, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) condemned the shooting calling on the officers to let reporters carry out their work.

"The shooting of Catherine Wanjeri Kariuki, a journalist attached to Kameme TV, while in the company of other journalists and the police is shameful and terrifying," MCK CEO David Omwoyo stated.

Nation Media Group building located at Kimathi Street in Nairobi CBD
Nation Media Group building located at Kimathi Street in Nairobi CBD
Photo
Nation
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