NPSC CEO Leley implicated in Maritim’s abduction claims
A family in Nandi County is calling for the prosecution of National Police Service Commission Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Leley over the disappearance of their kin late last month.
The family of Shadrack Maritim alleges that Leley should be prosecuted for abduction or unlawful detention after Maritim went missing on October 23, 2025 during a morning exercise run.
In a habeas corpus application, Maritim’s family—led by his brothers Joel Kosgei and Robert Kimutai, together with a friend, Enock Yego—further accuses police in Eldoret and Nandi County of failing to act even after a missing-person report was filed.
“Despite efforts by the family and friends, the police in Uasin Gishu County have not taken any significant steps to search for and rescue the subject,” the application filed by lawyer Kibe Mungai states. Justice Bahati Mwamuye referred the case to the High Court in Eldoret, saying the North Rift court station was most appropriate forum to hear the application.
The matter will be mentioned on December 1, 205 for directions.
According to the petition, the circumstances surrounding Maritim’s disappearance suggest that he may have been abducted on political grounds.
Mungai states that Maritim and Leley have long been embroiled in a political dispute in Tindiret Constituency, Nandi County, where both contested in the August 2022 general election.
The family further claims that Maritim was previously abducted in November 2021 and held for 18 hours before being released.
They say he could not recall what had happened to him as he reportedly remained unconscious for some time. They cite additional incidents, including an alleged confrontation on June 30, 2023, during which Lelei is said to have sent Maritim a warning message over “maligning his name.”
Another confrontation was reportedly witnessed on June 10 this year during the Tindiret Marathon, where the NPSC CEO allegedly confronted him over negative social media comments.
The family says Maritim lodged a formal protest through a law firm in May this year. On the day he disappeared, Maritim is said to have left his home in Kapseret for his usual morning run but never returned.
Alarmed, the family reported the matter to Langas Police Station, but officers allegedly downplayed the incident. The family says they have searched hospitals in both Eldoret and Nandi unsuccessfully.
“Despite the publicity the case has generated, the Attorney-General and the Director of Public Prosecutions are yet to take interest in the matter to assist the family and friends in finding their kin,” Mungai submitted.
He added that the conduct of the police suggests they may be aware of the circumstances or possible whereabouts of the missing man but have failed to act for undisclosed reasons.
Mungai noted that the lack of police urgency is especially troubling given the recent rise in abductions and extrajudicial executions, which he described as among the most pressing challenges facing Kenya’s criminal justice system.
Beyond seeking the production of Maritim—alive or dead—the family also wants the court to declare that Lelei is complicit in the alleged abduction or unlawful detention.
