Prominent blogger Francis Gaitho now says that he will present himself to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
This decision comes after the National Police Service (NPS) revealed they were seeking Gaitho, leading to the mistaken arrest of veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho earlier today.
The NPS issued a statement clarifying the incident as a case of mistaken identity, stating that Macharia Gaitho was promptly released after the error was recognized.
“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, meant for the arrest of Francis Gaitho who is our subject of investigation. We reiterate that as a Service, we do not target journalists in any way, and today’s incident is highly regrettable,” the statement read.
Francis Gaitho confirmed he had been in consultation with his legal team to determine the appropriate course of action. In a direct statement on his X account, Gaitho announced his intention to present himself to the DCI headquarters.
“I will be presenting myself at DCI Headquarters, Mazingira House Kiambu Road at 2pm today. Thank you all for your concern,” Gaitho said.
Gaitho, a former Thika Town MP aspirant, has been a vocal presence on social media, particularly during the ongoing demonstrations calling for the resignation of President William Ruto. He has participated in various online discussions, including the popular X Space hosted by Kimuzi, which attracted over 137,000 listeners, including digital strategist Dennis Itumbi and former CS Kipchumba Murkomen.
Commenting on the situation, one of Gaitho’s supporters stated, “Francis Gaitho is a fearless advocate for accountability. His decision to face the authorities head-on is a testament to his commitment to transparency and the rule of law.”
As Gaitho prepares to meet with the DCI, Kenyans online have expressed their concern and advised him to arrive with a strong legal team to ensure his rights are protected.
