Maritim Hospitalised at MTRH as Mystery Surrounding His 35-Day Disappearance Deepens
Nandi politician Shadrack Maritim, who had been missing for more than a month, has resurfaced in Eldoret and is now receiving medical attention as authorities intensify investigations into his unexplained disappearance.
Maritim, who vanished on October 27 while on a morning walk, was found in Mbale, Uganda, and later handed over to Kenyan police at the Busia border. Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) transported him to Eldoret, where he was booked at Eldoret Central Police Station as “found” before being taken to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) for treatment.
Confirming the recovery, Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi said detectives were now working to piece together the circumstances surrounding Maritim’s disappearance.
“He has been found, and our investigations are now in top gear to establish what exactly happened to him,” Mwanthi stated.
Family lawyer Frankline Kipkorir said that while the politician was alive, he required immediate medical care. “He has been taken for medication, after which the family will provide more details,” he noted.
Maritim’s reappearance has raised more questions than answers, with neither the police nor the family disclosing how he was located in Uganda. Officers confirmed that he will be required to record a statement once he is medically cleared.
Earlier in the day, Maritim’s Nairobi-based lawyer, Kibe Mungai, informed the High Court in Eldoret that the politician had managed to contact his relatives on Tuesday night, saying he had been abandoned near the town of Mbale.
“He sounded frightened and disoriented during the call,” Mungai told the court, adding that court records indicated Maritim had also reported to Mbale Police Station.
The lawyer further revealed that Maritim had previously faced threats, suggesting that his disappearance may have been connected to political intimidation. He maintained that despite his client being found, the legal petition filed over his disappearance should continue.
“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, urging the court to probe deeper into the incident.
However, opposing counsel contended that the case had been overtaken by events following Maritim’s recovery.
The High Court has nonetheless scheduled the matter for mention on December 10, 2025, directing Mungai to file a detailed affidavit outlining the circumstances of the alleged abduction and disappearance. The court also emphasised the need for petitioners to update it on Maritim’s current condition.
Maritim’s family had filed the petition a week before his recovery, seeking clarity over the 35-day disappearance. The case has since drawn significant attention from human rights groups and political observers, who warn that the incident underscores growing concerns about the safety of politicians and civilians, particularly in regions near the Uganda border.
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Maritim Hospitalised at MTRH as Mystery Surrounding His 35-Day Disappearance Deepens