About ten days after she reportedly went missing, popular blogger Scophine Aoko Otieno alias Maverick Aoko has finally been found.
On Friday, November 1, Maverick Aoko’s aide posted a statement on the blogger’s X social media account revealing that the journalist had been traced to the Kenya-Tanzania border, where she was found alive.
The aide further disclosed that immediately after she was found, Aoko’s family was informed about her presence before she was rushed to the hospital. According to the statement, Aoko was taken to the hospital by an unknown person who claimed to have found her outside their gate.
“She's been found at the Kenyan-Tanzania border. Her family was called from a hospital. She was taken there by an unidentified person who said they found her outside their gate,” narrated the Aide.
“Don't know much at the moment, but the father is on his way there. I will keep you updated. Thank you for standing with her Aide,” the statement added.
However, despite reports of being found alive, police officers were yet to establish the authenticity of the matter despite initial efforts by the security officers to trace the blogger who went missing in late October. Kenyans, particularly those on the X platform noted with concern the lack of activity on Aoko's account.
Earlier this week, a post was shared on her account by a user who identified themselves as Aoko's aide. The aide went ahead to provide an account of Aoko's last events before she went missing.
The aide noted that before her alleged disappearance, Aoko lived at her rural home and only travelled to Nairobi on rare occasions, particularly when she needed to attend her court sessions. According to the blogger's assistant, Aoko was forced to attend court sessions after she was charged with allegedly posting fake information on her X account but had been released on a cash bail of Ksh100,000.
"Hi, this is Aoko's aide. I'm tweeting using her account with the blessings of her dad. After her arrest, she opted to stay with family upcountry only going to Nairobi for meetings & Court," the aide noted.
Upon her return to Nairobi two weeks ago, the aide noted that Aoko reportedly found her door had been broken at the hinges, causing her to question the motive. Despite the incident, Aoko kept the information confidential to avoid drawing attention.
The aide noted that Aoko was later interviewed by the AFP, a French news outlet about her arrest ordeal and the continued threats she received. "After her tweet on Mr. "F", she went incognito, which we (family and friends) thought it normal, perhaps she just wanted to confuse enemies," the aide alleged.
"We still don't know her whereabouts. To whom do we report? The same police who told her lawyers point-blank, "We are coming for her." If they took her, we're asking that they produce her, if she is hiding, we pray that she is safe," the assistant added.
