Editor Found Safe After Night in Captivity
Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich has been found safe after spending about nine hours in the hands of his alleged abductors, according to a statement by the media company. Kiprotich was found dumped near Masinga Dam after he was allegedly seized by armed men along the Gilgil-Nakuru Road on Tuesday night.
The statement, as reported by AllAfrica, read: "Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich found safe, dumped near Masinga Dam nine hours after he was abducted along the Gilgil-Nakuru Road by armed men." His recovery comes amid renewed concerns over the safety of journalists in Kenya, the report noted.
Company Alleges Targeted Attack
The Standard Group had earlier described the incident as a possible targeted attack, noting that Kiprotich had been involved in editorial coverage scrutinising the conduct of the state. The company also linked the latest incident to a June 27 attempt to seize Kiprotich in Nakuru.
According to a statement issued by the media company on Tuesday, September 1, and reported by Tuko News, Kiprotich was abducted shortly before 9:20 pm along the Gilgil-Nakuru Road. The company said it did not know his whereabouts at the time of issuing the statement and demanded his immediate, safe and unconditional release.
The Standard Group said Tuesday's incident was the second time Kiprotich had allegedly been targeted within two months. It claimed that on June 27, armed men travelling in a Toyota Probox attempted to seize the journalist from his car as he drove to work in Nakuru. According to the company, Kiprotich escaped by locking his car doors and driving away.
The company further claimed that the June incident occurred days after President William Ruto publicly criticised the media house over its coverage. It said its investigations subsequently traced the vehicle allegedly used in the incident to the National Police Service's Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau, but claimed no one had been held accountable.
"Tonight, that threat has been carried out," the company said, as quoted by Tuko News.
Call for Independent Investigation
The Standard Group said Kiprotich had been at the forefront of its editorial coverage, including reporting that scrutinised the conduct of the state. The company alleged that the latest incident bore the hallmarks of a targeted attack against a journalist because of his work.
"We believe it may be linked to elements within the state seeking to intimidate this group into silence," the statement said, as reported by Tuko News. The company said any such attack would amount to an assault on freedom of expression and media freedom guaranteed under Articles 33 and 34 of the Constitution.
The statement, signed by Standard Group Group Chief Executive Officer Chaacha Mwita, called for an independent investigation into Kiprotich's alleged abduction and the June 27 incident. It also called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, the Law Society of Kenya, the Media Council of Kenya, the Committee to Protect Journalists and other stakeholders to demand answers.
With Kiprotich now safe, attention is likely to shift to establishing who abducted him, where he was taken and the motive behind the incident. The Standard Group has called for a transparent and independent investigation into both incidents and guarantees for the safety of journalists, as reported by AllAfrica.