NPS launches probe to identify armed men behind abduction of Standard Group Editor

The National Police Service in Kenya has launched an investigation to identify the heavily armed men responsible for allegedly kidnapping Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich. The Anti-Abduction Unit is probing the circumstances surrounding Kiprotich's disappearance, including the identities of the assailants who reportedly ordered occupants out of a vehicle on Gilgil-Nakuru Road on Tuesday night.

Kiprotich was found safe near Masinga Dam early Wednesday after being held for about nine hours. The Inspector General of Police has ordered immediate investigations into the incident, and the police have vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, emphasizing that no one is above the law. The National Police Service condemned the abduction and warned against any attempts to intimidate journalists or infringe upon constitutional rights, including press freedom.

This latest probe comes amid growing concern over attacks against journalists, with the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) alleging that Kiprotich had previously faced a similar ordeal in Nakuru County without any arrests. MCK has called on the Inspector General to ensure those responsible for the latest incident are identified and prosecuted, citing several documented cases of press freedom violations against journalists that have gone uninvestigated.

The MCK has urged security agencies to deploy their intelligence and investigative capabilities to uncover the identity of Kiprotich's abductors and bring them to justice, emphasizing the importance of protecting journalists from intimidation and harassment to maintain press freedom and democratic accountability.