"I am with my dad @MachariaGaitho. They brought him to Karen police station in the same car that took him."

Following a dramatic abduction outside Karen Police Station, veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho has spoken out about the terrifying ordeal, emphasizing his refusal to accept a return to authoritarian tactics and unchecked police power.

Gaitho recounted the harrowing experience of being forcibly seized by unidentified individuals who refused to disclose their identities. He described the chilling moment when, upon demanding to know who they were, they brazenly replied that their vehicle was a Subaru, implying they were police.

The incident unfolded when Gaitho, accompanied by his son, noticed a Subaru trailing him and drove to Karen Police Station for safety. Shocking footage captured by his son showed Gaitho being violently pushed into a white Toyota Probox by plainclothes individuals, while uniformed police officers looked on.

After the abduction, Gaitho's daughter, Anita Gaither, provided updates on social media, confirming her father's safety but criticizing the police response. "I am with my dad @MachariaGaitho. They brought him to Karen police station in the same car that took him. Despite rough treatment, he is safe," she reported, noting their difficulties in filing an abduction report at the station.

"Despite being here for over an hour, Karen Police Station officials refused to take @MachariaGaitho's statement. They insisted we go to DCI headquarters," Anita expressed frustration. "We refused, so they sent the DCIO from Langata police station to take his statement."

Gaitho's eventual release was attributed to mistaken identity by the police, highlighting ongoing concerns over unlawful abductions in the country. Despite court rulings condemning such actions, reports of abductions persist, particularly targeting those involved in nationwide protests.

Victims of these abductions have recounted tales of torture and coercion, subjected to questioning on matters they had no knowledge of. The incidents have fueled widespread fear among Kenyans about arbitrary detention and extrajudicial actions by authorities.

In response to his release, Gaitho has become an outspoken advocate against abuse of power, calling for accountability and the protection of civil liberties in Kenya's evolving political landscape