The National Police Service (NPS) on Wednesday came out to clarify the arrest of former Nation Media editor Macharia Gaitho who had allegedly been abducted on Wednesday morning.
While expressing remorse over the act, the police service claimed Macharia Gaitho's arrest was a case of mistaken identity.
According to the police, they had planned to arrest Francis Gaitho to facilitate investigations but officers mistakenly rounded up the journalist.
"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," read part of the police statement.
"Meant for the arrest of Francis Gaitho who is our subject of investigation."
The officers while regretting the decision, clarified that they were not targeting any journalists and that the incident witnessed on Wednesday morning was highly regrettable.
"The National Police Service remains committed to working with the media while discharging our mandate of promoting accountability and transparency," the police service reiterated.
The former journalist was arrested after driving to Karen Police Station. He was travelling in the company of his son when he noticed a car trailing them.
In the video obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, a group of men who were clad in civilian clothes were depicted forcefully pulling the journalist out of his car before bundling him to another nearby vehicle and subsequently driving away.
While confirming the reports of his arrest, Macharia's daughter, Anita Gaitho, revealed the police drove the veteran journalist back to the Karen Police Station.
According to Anita, the family also went ahead to record an abduction report at the police 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," she disclosed.
