Nandi politician Shadrack Maritim, who vanished for 35 days after leaving his Eldoret home for a morning jog, has resurfaced in Uganda amid allegations linking his disappearance to threats from National Police Service Commission Chief Executive Officer Peter Leley.
Maritim, an aspiring Member of Parliament for Tinderet Constituency, was found in Mbale, Uganda, on Tuesday night and handed over to Kenyan authorities at the Busia border on Wednesday.
He was immediately taken to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret for medical assessment after what his family describes as an abduction.
The 35-day ordeal began on October 27 when Maritim left his home at Unity Gardens Estate in Kapseret, Eldoret, for his routine morning walk.
What followed has raised troubling questions about the safety of politicians and citizens who find themselves at odds with senior government officials.
Court documents filed in a habeas corpus petition reveal a pattern of alleged threats from Leley dating back to 2023.
The petitioners, including Maritim’s brothers Joel Kipkemoi Kosgei and Robert Kimutai, alongside political ally Enock Kipketer Yego, accuse the NPSC boss of orchestrating the disappearance.
According to the petition, tensions between Maritim and Leley centered on Tinderet constituency politics and social media conversations.
In December 2024, Maritim reportedly recorded a phone conversation in which Leley grew agitated over social media posts allegedly targeting his family.
The NPSC CEO allegedly warned Maritim he would “deal with him” if the politician was behind the posts.
“Whilst this conversation was largely friendly towards the end, the eighth respondent got angry and told the subject that if he was the one behind scandalous allegations against his wife or family, he would deal with him,” the court petition states.
The threats escalated further through WhatsApp messages, where Leley allegedly warned Maritim that he would “show him hajui,” a Swahili phrase suggesting severe consequences, if he continued his criticisms.
By May, Maritim had grown sufficiently alarmed to seek legal protection.
Through Katwa Kigen Advocates, he submitted a self-recorded statement documenting the threats.
The complaint, according to court papers, centered on “ceaseless threats he was receiving from the eighth respondent.”
When Maritim finally made contact with his family on Tuesday night, his brother described him as sounding frightened and disoriented.
The politician claimed his abductors had abandoned him near Mbale. He reportedly made his way to Mbale Police Station, where he sought assistance.
Upon his return to Kenya, Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi confirmed that investigations into the matter were now in high gear.
“He has been found, and our investigations are now in top gear to establish what exactly happened to him,” Mwanthi said at Eldoret Central Police Station, where Maritim was booked as “found” before being taken for medical attention.
The family’s Nairobi-based lawyer, Kibe Mungai, told the High Court in Eldoret that while they were relieved Maritim was alive, the matter was far from closed.
“An emerging pattern of missing Kenyans mysteriously appearing near the Uganda border ahead of habeas corpus hearings is troubling. His appearance does not close the matter,” Mungai argued.
His local lawyer, Frankline Kipkorir, confirmed Maritim required treatment and that the family would provide more details after his medical assessment.
“He has been taken for medication, after which the family will provide more details,” Kipkorir said.
The State Law Office, while acknowledging the government’s interest in establishing the truth, argued that the petition had been overtaken by events since Maritim had been found.
However, Justice presiding over the case rejected this argument, setting the matter for mention on December 10 and directing Mungai to file a detailed affidavit outlining the circumstances of Maritim’s alleged abduction and disappearance.
The court emphasized the need for petitioners to update it on Maritim’s current status and stressed that it must hear directly from him about his ordeal.
Maritim’s case has drawn attention from human rights advocates and political observers, with Amnesty International and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights listed as interested parties in the petition.
The case underscores growing concerns over the safety of politicians and citizens in border areas, particularly those who find themselves at odds with powerful government officials.
The petition seeks a habeas corpus order compelling the Inspector General of Police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to explain the steps they have taken to investigate, search for, find and rescue Maritim.
It also demands that Leley be prosecuted for the alleged abduction.
Maritim is eyeing the Tinderet parliamentary seat in the 2027 general elections, hoping to unseat incumbent MP Julius Melly, who has served multiple terms representing the constituency under the United Democratic Alliance party.
Tinderet, one of six constituencies in Nandi County, is characterized by rolling highlands and is considered a hardship area with high poverty levels.
Leley, who has served as NPSC Chief Executive Officer since April 2023, is a seasoned public administrator with over 28 years of experience.
He previously served as Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Nairobi and as the inaugural County Secretary for Uasin Gishu County. He was decorated with the Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear in 2024 for his contributions to public service.
The circumstances surrounding Maritim’s disappearance and the 35 days he spent missing remain unclear.
Police and the family have not disclosed full details of how he was located or what transpired during his time in Uganda. Maritim is expected to provide a formal statement to investigators once he completes his medical treatment.
The case raises broader questions about the safety of citizens facing political intimidation and the apparent ease with which Kenyans can be transported across international borders against their will.
As the December 10 court date approaches, attention will focus on whether criminal investigations will proceed independently of the habeas corpus petition and whether senior police officials will be compelled to testify about their handling of the case.
The petition states that Maritim’s constitutional rights to life, dignity and fair administrative action were violated, accusations that will now be tested in court as investigators work to establish the full truth of what happened during those 35 days.
