KANU Secretary General George Wainaina/HANDOUTIndependence Party KANU has condemned the reported abduction of Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich and demanded an independent investigation into the incident.
In a statement, KANU Secretary General George Wainaina described the incident as “brazen and disturbing”, saying the reported abduction of a journalist raises concerns about media freedom and the rule of law.
Wainaina said the incident should not be treated as an isolated case in assessing the circumstances reported, noting that Kiprotich had survived an attempted abduction in June and reported it at Menengai Police Station.
He questioned why no action had allegedly been taken to identify those linked to the earlier incident.
“This is not an isolated incident that can be dismissed with the usual assurances and expressions of concern,” Wainaina said.
“In June this year, Mr Kiprotich survived an attempted abduction and reported the matter at Menengai Police Station. No action was taken whatsoever to find those responsible for the criminality.”
The KANU official said the latest incident raised concerns about journalists’ safety and the protection of media freedom in the country.
He said attempts to intimidate or unlawfully detain journalists must not be normalised, particularly while carrying out their professional duties.
“Therefore, it must be stated in no uncertain terms that the abduction of a journalist is a direct assault on media freedom and the rule of law,” Wainaina said.
“We reject, in all its manifestations, the attempt to normalise intimidation, unlawful detention or abduction of journalists for speaking truth to power.”
His remarks came after Kiprotich was reportedly abducted along the Gilgil-Nakuru highway on Tuesday night, according to reports, triggering an overnight search by colleagues, family and other members of the public following reports of the incident.
The Standard Group confirmed that the journalist had been found safe on Wednesday morning after the search.
Standard Group Chief Executive Officer Chaacha Mwita said Kiprotich was located at around 6.30 am near Masinga Dam after his captors allegedly dumped him in the early hours of the morning.
According to Mwita, Kiprotich sought refuge with a nearby family before being located by a Standard Group team led by the CEO.
“He is safe, though understandably shaken by his ordeal,” Mwita said.
Mwita thanked those who joined the search effort and supported the journalist's family and colleagues during the anxious hours.
“We thank everyone who mobilised through the night to search for him, prayed for him, and stood with this Group and his family through an anxious few hours - including the household that opened its doors to him,” he said.
KANU said the circumstances surrounding the reported abduction required urgent scrutiny, insisting that no person should be subjected to arbitrary detention or made to disappear.
“Indeed, no person should be subjected to arbitrary detention or simply made to disappear. Abduction cannot be an instrument of law enforcement. It is a violation of the law,” Wainaina said.
The party called for a thorough, independent and transparent investigation into both the reported abduction and the earlier incident reported at Menengai Police Station.
