Matiang’i condemns abduction of Standard Media Group editor, defends press freedom
Jubilee presidential candidate Fred Matiang’i has condemned the abduction of a Standard Media editor, warning that attacks on journalists threaten Kenya’s democratic values and freedom of the press. Speaking on a local radio station on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, Matiang’i said the reported abduction of Standard Group editor Alex Kiprotich, who was later found after […]
Standard Group editor Alex Kiprotich has been found safe after being abducted near Masinga Dam, just nine hours after his forced abduction along the Gilgil–Nakuru Road. The media company confirmed the news on September 2, 2026, following a nine-hour search. Kiprotich's abduction reignited concerns over journalist safety in Kenya, just two months after he narrowly escaped a separate attempted abduction in Nakuru.
The latest incident occurred shortly before 9:20 pm on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, and the Standard Group CEO stated that they were unaware of Kiprotich's whereabouts, demanding his immediate, safe and unconditional release. The circumstances surrounding his recovery remain unclear, as details about his captors, motives, and why he was released are yet to be disclosed.
This incident follows a separate attempted abduction in June 2026, where four armed men intercepted Kiprotich's vehicle in Nakuru, but he managed to escape by locking his car doors and speeding away. The Standard Group has launched an investigation into both incidents, emphasizing that Kiprotich's latest abduction appears to be a targeted attack on a journalist.
Written by urgent.news from People Daily Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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