The Chief Executive of the National Police Service Commission, Peter Leley, has rejected allegations linking him to the disappearance of Nandi politician Shadrack Maritim, whose brief disappearance in late October triggered a petition against several senior security agencies.
Maritim, an aspiring MP for Tinderet, was reported missing on 27 October after leaving his home in Eldoret for a morning jog.
A search of his usual route and checks at nearby hospitals produced no leads, prompting his family to file a missing person report at Langas Police Station.
On 19 November his brothers and an associate filed a habeas corpus application against eight respondents, among them the National Police Service, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Inspector General of Police and Leley.
They accused the agencies of mishandling the investigation and suggested the disappearance might have been linked to political tensions between Maritim and Leley.
The case shifted after Maritim resurfaced in Mbale in Uganda, saying he had been abandoned there by unknown individuals. His return prompted Leley to ask the court to allow cross examination of Maritim to clarify what had happened and whether the disappearance might have been staged for political effect.
His lawyers offered no evidence for that suggestion.
The matter came before Justice R Nyakundi on Thursday in a virtual session. Lawyer Kibe Mungai, representing the petitioners, told the court that Maritim was receiving treatment in Eldoret and could not travel to Nairobi immediately to swear an affidavit.
He said Maritim had already recorded a statement with the DCI and would file the affidavit on 16 December.
Leley’s legal team objected to any delay and asked that Maritim be examined by three doctors to verify his condition. They also asked the court to remove Leley from the proceedings, arguing that he had been implicated without proof.
The court directed that Maritim’s affidavit be filed by Tuesday ahead of the next mention on 19 December, when further directions will be issued.
