Nandi Politician Found in Uganda After Mysterious Disappearance

Shadrack Maritim, a Nandi politician who vanished in late October, was found in Mbale, Uganda, after weeks of uncertainty. 

His family confirmed that he contacted them on Tuesday night, stating that his captors had abandoned him near the town. Relatives travelled to the border to bring him home the following day.

Maritim, an aspiring MP for Tinderet, had been missing since 27 October, when he went for a morning jog from his home in Eldoret. His disappearance raised immediate concerns, particularly due to his prior political conflicts. 

His family had filed a habeas corpus petition, seeking to compel authorities to account for his whereabouts, while also accusing the police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations of negligence. In court, Maritim’s family lawyer, Kibe Mungai, said that Maritim appeared distressed during their phone call, urging further investigation into the circumstances of his disappearance. 

He expressed concerns about the timing of Maritim's reappearance, pointing out that such cases often involve individuals resurfacing near the Uganda border just before court hearings. Maritim’s case is also being scrutinised by human rights groups, with Amnesty International and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights raising alarms about enforced disappearances in Kenya. 

The politician’s previous abduction in 2021, believed to be politically motivated, has added to the family’s fears. The High Court has scheduled a hearing for 10 December, where Maritim is expected to appear in person to provide an account of his ordeal. 

The hearing will address whether criminal investigations into his disappearance will proceed, and whether senior police officials will be required to testify.