Nandi Family Seeks NPSC CEO Lesley’s Arrest in Kin’s Abduction and Disappearance

Fresh tension is building in Nandi County after the family of a missing man asked the High Court to order the arrest and prosecution of National Police Service Commission CEO Peter Leley over what they claim is a politically motivated abduction.

The family of 35-year-old Shadrack Maritim says he vanished on October 23 while on his usual morning run in Kapseret. They believe his disappearance is linked to a long-running political feud with Leley in Tindiret Constituency.

In a habeas corpus application filed by lawyer Kibe Mungai, the family accuses police stations in Eldoret and Nandi County of failing to act despite receiving a missing-person report.

They say officers at Langas Police Station dismissed their concerns and have shown little interest even as the case attracts growing public attention.

Justice Bahati Mwamuye has referred the matter to the High Court in Eldoret and set December 1 as the mention date.

Maritim’s brothers, Joel Kosgei and Robert Kimutai, together with family friend Enock Yego, say the circumstances of his disappearance mirror a previous ordeal in November 2021 when he was abducted and held for 18 hours before being released in a confused and semi-conscious state.

The petition outlines a history of political confrontations between Maritim and the NPSC CEO. Both men contested the Tindiret parliamentary seat in the 2022 General Election and have reportedly clashed on several occasions since.

According to the filing, Leley allegedly warned Maritim in June last year over social media posts that he claimed damaged his reputation. Another confrontation was witnessed at the Tindiret Marathon on June 10 this year where the CEO is said to have confronted Maritim again over online criticism.

The family says Maritim instructed a law firm in May to lodge a formal protest after the exchanges began to escalate.

On the morning of his disappearance, Maritim left his home for an exercise routine and never returned. His family searched hospitals across Eldoret and Nandi without success.

Mungai told the court that the police response has been suspiciously lethargic at a time when Kenya is grappling with rising cases of abductions and enforced disappearances. He said the conduct of officers suggests they may have information they are unwilling to disclose.

He also faulted the Attorney-General and the Director of Public Prosecutions for failing to take interest in the matter despite its seriousness and the growing concerns raised by the family and the public.

The family now wants the court to compel the state to produce Maritim alive or dead. They are also seeking a declaration that Leley is complicit in what they describe as an abduction or unlawful detention.

The NPSC CEO has not publicly responded to the allegations.