The Kenya Editors Guild has condemned the reported abduction of Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich and called for an independent investigation into the incident and an earlier attempt to seize the journalist in June. The guild, through its president Zubeidah Kananu, said the circumstances surrounding the two incidents required a credible investigation capable of establishing who was involved, why Kiprotich was targeted and whether the incidents were connected. The demand followed Kiprotich’s reported abduction along the Gilgil-Nakuru Road on Tuesday night, September 1, when armed men allegedly intercepted the journalist and took him away. The Standard Group said he was abducted shortly before 9:20pm while travelling along the highway.

Kiprotich was later found safe near Masinga Dam in Machakos County, about nine hours after he was taken. His recovery ended an overnight search but left questions over the identity and motive of those behind the incident. The Standard Group has described the latest incident as particularly concerning because it came about two months after Kiprotich was involved in a separate reported attempt to seize him in Nakuru. On June 27, 2026, four armed men travelling in a Toyota Probox reportedly intercepted Kiprotich as he drove to work in Nakuru. According to accounts from the journalist and the Standard Group, Kiprotich locked the doors of his vehicle and managed to drive away before the men could take him.

The Committee to Protect Journalists later reported that Kiprotich told the organisation that three men in plain clothes, armed with AK-47 rifles, approached his vehicle after it was intercepted. He said he locked himself inside and sped away. He and a witness subsequently gave statements at a local police station. The Standard Group subsequently said its investigations had traced the Toyota Probox used in the June incident to the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB) of the National Police Service. That claim has not been established through a court finding, and no individual has been publicly convicted or held responsible for the June incident.

The Kenya Editors Guild’s call for an independent investigation is therefore significant because it seeks to have the circumstances of both incidents examined outside the organisations that may themselves come under scrutiny. The two incidents have raised concerns about the safety of journalists, particularly because the June attempt occurred shortly after President William Ruto publicly criticised the Standard Group over its reporting. On June 24, Ruto accused the media organisation of publishing what he described as negative and hostile coverage of his administration. The Standard Group rejected the criticism and maintained that its editorial decisions were independent.

The Committee to Protect Journalists subsequently called on Kenyan authorities to investigate the June incident, noting its timing after the President’s criticism of the media organisation. CPJ also reported that police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga rejected suggestions that police were involved, questioning the linking of police and abduction. The political context has consequently become part of the wider debate surrounding Kiprotich’s safety. However, there is currently no established finding that the journalist’s work or the President’s criticism caused either incident. The Standard Group has itself called for a prompt, transparent and independent investigation into the two incidents and urged authorities to guarantee the safety of journalists.

For the Kenya Editors Guild, the latest incident goes beyond the individual case because of its implications for journalists working in Kenya. The guild’s position is that journalists should be able to carry out their professional duties without intimidation, threats or unlawful interference. An independent investigation would also help determine whether the two incidents were isolated criminal acts or part of a wider pattern. The call comes amid broader concerns from press-freedom organisations over attacks and threats against journalists in Kenya.  The latest incident has also attracted condemnation from other organisations and political actors, increasing pressure on authorities to provide answers about what happened to Kiprotich.

For now, Kiprotich has been found safe, but the circumstances of his disappearance remain unresolved. The key questions are who intercepted him along the Gilgil-Nakuru Road, who ordered or carried out the operation, where he was taken and why he was abandoned near Masinga Dam. An investigation into those questions, alongside the June incident, is expected to determine whether there is any connection between the two cases. The Editors Guild’s demand is ultimately for a process that establishes the facts independently and ensures that anyone found responsible is held accountable, regardless of their position or affiliation.