Veteran journalist and Nation Editor Machariah Gaitho on Wednesday narrated mistreatment at the hands of police officers who abducted him while he sought refuge at Karen Police Station.
Addressing the press at the station, Gaitho revealed that he was trailed from his home and upon reaching the station, he was bundled into a Toyota Probox and driven away before he was later released.
In response, media stakeholders engaged lawyer Danstan Omari to pursue legal action against the police with the aim of having police officers involved interdicted.
Here is Gaitho's narration;
"We came to Karen Police Station to look for help. We drove right into the station but those two cars followed us right inside and forced me into their car, a white Probox.
"I was Sandwiched between two men in civilian clothes. I was handcuffed and I was assaulted. They were demanding to know why I was resisting arrest and I told them I was not resisting arrest, I was resisting criminals. I don't know who you are, you have not identified yourselves and up to now, as far as I am concerned, you are criminals.
"They drove me down Lan'gata Road until the turning of Lang'ata South Road where they stopped, and made a few calls, I don't know to who but I gather they were talking to their superior. I could hear them uttering words about how far but I heard them mention DCI headquarters. Then after long conversations, they decided to turn back.
"I came with them, I was still handcuffed in the car. We stopped across the road near the Shell Petrol Station. That is the time, they asked for my ID and I gave it to them. They looked at me and said, 'You are the Francis Macharia Gaitho?' and I said yes.
"One guy got out, made some phone calls, and returned. He asked for my phone number and I refused to give it to him. They earlier asked for my phone which I did not have with me because I had left it with my son.
"After another long telephone conversation, they came back and the person sitting behind me was asked to remove my handcuffs. Then they told me it was a case of mistaken identity and that I was free to go.
"They did not explain how it was mistaken identity. They did not explain how they could have trailed me near my home. As far as I am concerned, those are still criminals.
"They brought me back to Karen Police Station where they had abducted me in the first place and they went away. They were telling me now I can go home but I said no. First, I will report an attempted abduction, this is a criminal offence. I have already recorded an incident, reported a crime and it is in the occurrence book.
"Now, I am waiting to write a statement. They have been telling me to go to DCI Headquarters to report there but I said no, the incident happened here at the precincts of Karen Police Station.
"I received a call from the OCPD Lang'ata, she told me to go and talk to her there but I said no, if she wants to talk to me here. Now she has told me that they are sending someone from Lang'ata to come and take a statement from me. That Is what I am waiting for."
Legal Action
Gaitho told the press that he believed that his abduction was not a case of mistaken identity noting that his recent reports, published in the Daily Nation, that were critical of the state.
As a result, he confirmed that he would be demanding accountability for the police officers involved to be held responsible
"It is clear that all these things are connected that the police are operating outside the law to intimidate, arrest, and harass innocent people.
"We will be demanding proper accountability from all those who are responsible and who claim to be in charge of security in Kenya," he stated.
Lawyer Danstan Omari, who was at the press briefing, confirmed that he will pursue legal action seeking interdiction of the police officers involved.
"I now have full instructions from all the stakeholders in the media industry to pursue this matter legally. First, the circular of the Director of Public Prosecutions rests the responsibility to investigate police abuse, and police behavior on IPOA," stated Omari.
"From here, we shall record a complaint at IPOA... After that, we shall institute a suit to compel IPOA and the National Police Service Commission to interdict the police officers who are involved in the act that has been committed."
Shortly after his release, the National Police Service confirmed that his arrest was a case of mistaken identity.
