A Nandi politician who vanished in late October has been found alive in Uganda, though the circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain shrouded in mystery. Shadrack Maritim, an aspiring Member of Parliament for Tinderet Constituency, resurfaced near the Ugandan town of Mbale, prompting a mix of relief and intensified scrutiny from his family and legal team.

The discovery marks a significant turn in a case that has gripped Nandi County and put a spotlight on the issue of enforced disappearances. Maritim’s reappearance comes just as legal pressure was mounting on Kenyan authorities to produce him, transforming a desperate search into a complex investigation that now crosses international borders.

A Disappearance and a High Court Battle

Maritim went missing on October 27 after leaving his home in Eldoret for a routine morning jog. His family, fearing the worst, quickly filed a habeas corpus petition in the High Court, demanding that the state account for his whereabouts. They alleged that his disappearance was linked to threats from a senior official at the National Police Service Commission (NPSC), a claim that added a serious dimension to the case.

In a dramatic court hearing, it was revealed that Maritim had contacted his brother on Tuesday night, stating his abductors had abandoned him. His lawyer, Kibe Mungai, told the court that Maritim sounded threatened but was alive. The family immediately set off for the Ugandan border to bring him home.

Questions of Coincidence and Justice

Despite his return, the legal battle is far from over. The presiding judge has insisted that the court must hear directly from Maritim about his ordeal and has scheduled a mention for December 10. Advocate Kibe Mungai emphasized that the petition would not be withdrawn. "We will pursue this to its logical conclusion," Mungai told the court.

Mungai also pointed to what he described as an emerging and troubling pattern. He noted a "coincidence" of missing Kenyans reappearing near the Uganda border just before their habeas corpus hearings are due. This observation has drawn the attention of human rights organizations, which are now monitoring the case closely.

• October 27: Shadrack Maritim disappears after leaving for a morning jog in Eldoret.
• Early November: Family files a habeas corpus petition, linking the disappearance to alleged threats.
• December 3 (Tuesday night): Maritim contacts his family, claiming he has been abandoned in Mbale, Uganda.
• December 10: Date set for Maritim to potentially testify in the High Court about his abduction.

The State Law Office argued that the petition had been overtaken by events since Maritim was found, but his legal team insists that justice demands a full inquiry into the circumstances of his alleged abduction.

The Road Ahead for Nandi Residents

For the people of Tinderet, the return of a potential candidate for the 2027 General Election is significant. However, the unresolved nature of his disappearance injects a sense of uncertainty into the local political landscape. The case touches on fundamental issues of safety, the rule of law, and the security of individuals, particularly those who enter the political arena.

As the court awaits Maritim's testimony, many questions linger. The answers he provides could have far-reaching implications, not only for his own political future but for the broader conversation about human rights and state accountability in Kenya.