Africa-Press. Kenyan journalist Alex Kiprotich has returned safely to his colleagues after being kidnapped by armed and masked men near Nakuru (160 kilometers west of the capital Nairobi), an incident that has reignited concerns about the safety of journalists and activists in Kenya.
The group “Standard Group,” where Kiprotich works as a contributing editor, stated that he was taken from a vehicle on Tuesday evening. Footage from a car camera released by the group showed a white vehicle stopping in a narrow area of the road, from which four masked men emerged, some carrying firearms while others appeared to wield sticks.
After about nine hours, the group found Kiprotich near the Masinga Dam, over 200 kilometers southeast of where he was kidnapped. The group reported that he was safe but appeared affected, and he later appeared at a press conference in Nairobi looking “shocked” without making any statements, according to a local source.
The CEO of the group, Chacha Mwita, stated that the kidnappers demanded the journalist reveal the sources of the Standard newspaper, adding that the incident bears the hallmarks of a “targeted attack on a journalist due to his work.” The identity of the kidnappers and the location where Kiprotich was held, as well as the reason for his release, remain unclear based on available information.
Calls for Accountability
The Inspector General of the Kenyan police announced the opening of an investigation through the anti-kidnapping unit to determine the circumstances of the incident and the identity of the armed men. The police stated that kidnapping is a serious crime and that those found responsible will be held accountable. However, they accused the Standard newspaper of attempting to “undermine public confidence in the police” through its coverage, according to a local source.
The Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights has called for a swift, independent, neutral, and comprehensive investigation, emphasizing that kidnapping, unlawful deprivation of liberty, threats, and intimidation are serious violations. Amnesty International in Kenya also called for an independent and transparent investigation, stating that targeting journalists threatens freedom of expression and the public’s right to access information.
This incident does not appear to be isolated, as the Standard Group noted that Kiprotich survived a previous attempt to abduct him from his vehicle last June, linking both incidents to his journalistic work. The “People Daily” reported that the earlier attempt occurred days after President William Ruto criticized the media group for its coverage.
The chairperson of the Kenya Journalists Association has called for a swift and independent investigation into the connection between this incident and the June attempt, demanding accountability regardless of the rank or institutional affiliation of those responsible. The Media Council of Kenya, the official regulatory body for the media sector, also called for immediate, comprehensive, and transparent investigations.
The Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights added that this incident comes amid ongoing reports of attacks, intimidation, and violence against journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society actors, warning that leaving these violations unaddressed could normalize intimidation as a means to silence independent voices and narrow the civil and democratic space ahead of the 2027 elections.
Since the anti-government protests in June 2024, dozens of critics of the government and activists have been reported kidnapped or missing, according to a local source. Human rights organizations claim that security agencies are involved, while officials deny this, although President William Ruto acknowledged in June that there have been “instances of excessive and unlawful conduct” by security personnel.
