Blogger Francis Gaitho has announced his intention to present himself at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters on Kiambu Road after the National Police Service (NPS) declared they were seeking him.
Earlier, in what the police described as a case of mistaken identity, veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho was apprehended shortly after leaving his home on Wednesday morning. He was released hours later.
"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," stated the NPS.
Following this incident, blogger Francis Gaitho confirmed he was consulting with his lawyers to determine the best course of action. He later announced that he would present himself to the DCI.
Did you read this?
"I will be presenting myself at DCI Headquarters, Mazingira House Kiambu Road at 2pm today. Thank you all for your concern," he stated.
Gaitho has been actively voicing his opinions on social media during the ongoing protests calling for President William Ruto’s resignation. A former Thika Town MP aspirant, Gaitho has shifted his focus to digital activism, where he holds the government accountable. Some of his posts have sparked both praise and criticism.
He has been involved in several discussions, including an X Space hosted by Kimuzi, which had over 137,000 listeners, including digital strategist Dennis Itumbi and former CS Kipchumba Murkomen.
In response to his announcement, Kenyans online advised Gaitho to arrive at the DCI headquarters with a team of lawyers to ensure his safety.
"Armed with lawyers or else."
"Fearless indeed, we love this. They should avoid abducting us and tell us to present ourselves, and we will go."
"Share photos and everything too, Sir," read some of the comments online.
According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), over 59 people have been abducted during the recent wave of protests, with 413 nursing injuries. The number of fatalities stands at 50 since June 18, 2024.
