How Standard Group Associate Editor escaped abduction

Four armed men attempted to abduct Standard Group's Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich in Nakuru.

An eyewitness said he had stepped outside his residence to bask in the morning sun at around 7.30am when he saw two vehicles - a Probox and another car - speeding along the Mercy Njeri-Mastoo Road.

According to the witness, the Probox overtook the other vehicle and blocked its path. Three armed men then alighted from the Probox, with one opening the rear passenger door of Kiprotich's vehicle.

On realising there was no passenger, one of the armed men closed the door and proceeded to the front, giving Kiprotich a chance to lock the doors and eventually make an escape.

He later  reported the incident at Menengai Police Station, where he and the eyewitness recorded statements.

Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) visited the scene and launched investigations into the alleged attempted abduction.

Speaking at Menengai Police Station, lawyer Gordon Ogola said Kiprotich was travelling to Kabarak when the Probox began trailing him before overtaking and blocking his vehicle.

"Three men alighted from the vehicle, brandishing AK-47 rifles. One opened the passenger door but did not get in. He closed the door and walked around the vehicle, giving Kiprotich an opportunity to lock all the doors," Ogola said.

He alleged that the armed men repeatedly struck the vehicle while attempting to force Kiprotich to open the doors, but were unsuccessful. Kiprotich then swerved away and sped off, escaping the scene despite the men attempting to pursue him.

Ogola further claimed that the incident followed another suspicious encounter on Friday.

He said that at around noon, while travelling to Kabarak, Kiprotich noticed a Subaru, registration number KDC 146E, following him. The vehicle allegedly continued trailing him after he stopped to refuel at a Rubis petrol station in Kiamunyi.

According to Ogola, the Subaru briefly disappeared before reappearing later in the day.

"At around 5 pm, the same Subaru was spotted near the Kabarak gate leading to the home of the late former President Daniel arap Moi," he said.

Ogola said they initially dismissed the incident but later informed police after Saturday's attempted abduction. He claimed officers at Menengai Police Station confirmed that the Subaru belonged to the Regional Directorate of Criminal Investigations office in Nakuru.

According to Ogola, DCI officers said the vehicle had been in the area while pursuing robbery suspects.

"We are wondering what a coincidence it is that they followed Mr Kiprotich into the petrol station and up to the Kabarak gate. We believe those who attempted the abduction were not ordinary criminals but State agents," he alleged.

Ogola linked the alleged attempted abduction to The Standard Group's editorial stance and recent headlines.

The attack comes two days after President William Ruto went on social media to disparage the media house's news coverage and one of its shareholders, Gideon Moi.

Using his X account, Dr Ruto described The Standard's headlines as "extortionist propaganda", and also launched a personal attack on the company's chairman, Gideon.

In a sharply-worded post emphasised using capital letters, he alleged that The Standard had embarked on a five-day campaign of headlines aimed at discrediting his Kenya Kwanza administration.

“GMoi, your STANDARD media’s 5 days a week EXTORTIONIST propaganda HEADLINES on me & my administration’s transformative track record will get you NOTHING & NOWHERE. BLACKMAIL to yield to your GREED? NEVER. Kenya belongs to all Kenyans, not you alone. Jaribu 8 days a week. Do your WORST,” the President wrote.

The President followed up with yet another post on his X account claiming journalists are engaging in unpaid labour at the Standard: "Bro,the BILLIONAIRE you are;HIDING behind 'debts';forcing many months' UNPAID labour slaving to defend your STANDARD headlines 'BOLD' extortion GANGSTERISM driven by GREED;is HEARTLESS to loyal workers, INSULT to journalism and BETRAYAL to free media that STANDARD once belonged."

In a rejoinder, The Standard, through its Group CEO Chaacha Mwita, said the media house will not be intimidated by the threats and warned that should anything happen to the company's journalists or property, the state would be held liable because of the President's remarks.

"The Standard Group PLC will hold the government fully accountable should any harm befall the media house, its journalists, management, directors or its shareholders as a result of the President’s remarks," he said.

Mr Mwita further noted: "We, however, admit that the President, in his post, was right on one thing: “Kenya belongs to all Kenyans”. He is the country’s leader and when he fails, Kenya fails. But The Standard will not cheer on any such failure; we will instead point it out. We are, figuratively speaking, the child with the courage to say: “The emperor is naked!”

The Kenya Union of Journalists also weighed in, saying a transparent and thorough investigation ought to take place and those responsible be held to account.

Speaking on the incident, the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) Secretary General, Eric Oduor, called for immediate investigations and urged authorities to ensure those behind the foiled abduction are identified and prosecuted.

"If the government has got any issue, let them follow the law and hold journalists accountable based on the laid-down procedures under the law," said Oduor.

He insisted that any grievances against journalists should be addressed through lawful channels rather than intimidation or violence.

"Abducting journalists or attempting to abduct a journalist is a criminal offence and we demand that the officers or anybody who was involved in that action be held to account," he said.

Lawyer Ogola on Saturday said the media house has faced pressure from the government for more than three years, citing previous disputes over government advertising and the revocation of the company's broadcasting licence by the Communications Authority of Kenya.

"This is an attempt by a government that has lost its way and does not respect press freedom. The Standard has remained the eye of the citizens, and any attempt to silence it will not be tolerated. We will pursue all legal avenues," Ogola said.

He maintained that the incident would not intimidate the media house and argued that any political differences between President Ruto and Kanu chairman Gideon Moi should not be used against the company.

"The editorial department operates independently. Gideon Moi does not write the headlines or determine editorial decisions," said Ogola.

Police investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Additional reporting by Okumu Modachi