It's me you wanted - Journalist Macharia Gaitho tells off police over mistaken identity

 

Veteran Journalist Macharia Gaitho

Veteran Journalist Macharia Gaitho has told off the Directorate of Criminal Investigations on allegations that his alleged abduction was a case of mistaken identity.

This comes after the National Police Service said they were targeting social media Influencer Francis Gaitho and not him.

But Gaitho in a rejoinder dismissed the narrative saying the difference between him and the man they claim they wanted is a world apart.

"That Francis Gaitho, they claim they are looking for, I am twice his age. He does not live where I live because they trailed me from my home, as far as I know. He does not drive the same car and me. It is me they were looking for, It is me they were trailing," the veteran journalist said.

Gaitho was addressing the media at Karen Police Station where he was seeking to record a statement over what he termed as an "attempted abduction".

He raised questions about how they could have traced him to the point of abduction at Karen Police Station and still claim they had mistaken him for another.

Addressing the media after his release, Gaitho narrated how they drove to Karen Police Station to look for help, saying the two cars on the chase followed them right into the station

"They forced me into their car, a white probox. I was sandwiched between two men in civilian clothes. I was handcuffed and I was assaulted," he said.

Gaitho said his abductors were demanding to know why he was resisting arrest.

"I told them I was not resisting arrest, I was resisting criminals," he added saying they had not identified themselves.

Gaitho said they drove him down Lang'ata Road up to the turning of Lang'ata South Road where they stopped and made a few calls.

"I could hear them uttering words like Alpha, Bravo, Sierra, I don't know what those mean but I heard they mentioned DCI headquarters," Gaitho said.

After long conversations, Gaitho said, they decided to turn back.

"We came with them I was still handcuffed in the car. We stopped here near the Shell petrol station and that is the time they asked for my ID and  I gave it to them," he said.

They then asked if he was Francis Macharia Gaitho to which he said yes.

The name Francis, however,  is new to many as the veteran journalist is often known as Macharia Gaitho, a name he uses as a byline for his stories.

"One guy got out made some phone calls came back again and asked for my phone numbers. I refused to give him. They had previously asked for my phone also which I did not have with me because I had left it with my son," he said.

He narrated that after another long conversation, his abductors came back to the vehicle.

The man seated next to him was asked to remove his handcuffs and then they told him it was a case of mistaken identity and that he was free to go.

'They did not explain how it was mistaken identity; they did not explain how they could have trailed me right from my home or near my home," he said.

"They brought me back to Karen Police Station and they went away. They were telling me now I can go home," he said.

Gaitho said he has since reported a crime and he is waiting to record a statement.

He added that they had been telling him to record his statement at DCI Headquarters, but he refused.

Gaitho believes his attempted abduction is in relation to his work and urged others who have been abducted to seek legal redress.

"It is extremely traumatising. When I asked them who they were they told me they have a Subaru and guns so I should know they are police officers," he said. 

He faulted the government for promising a state free of abduction and failed to keep such a promise.

by SHARON MWENDE