Editor's abduction probe nears end as lawyers press for CCTV footage

Alex Kiprotich’s abduction probe nears its end, but lawyers are still pushing for crucial Gilgil weighbridge CCTV footage. [Courtesy, Standard]

Investigations into the abduction of Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich are nearing completion, with detectives expected to conclude the probe by Friday as his lawyers continue to push for the release of CCTV footage they say could provide crucial evidence.

Speaking at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) offices in Nakuru, Kiprotich’s lawyer Gordon Ogola said detectives had received the results of fingerprint dusting but had declined to disclose the findings because investigations were still ongoing.

“Of course, they couldn't disclose to us the findings as they are conducting further investigations,” he said.

Ogola said detectives had requested fingerprints from other people who used the vehicle on the day of the incident to corroborate evidence and aid further investigations.

“Today we came with Kiprotich and the driver and their fingerprints have been taken,” he said yesterday.

He said detectives had revealed that significant progress had been made and that, following the collection of Kiprotich’s and the driver’s fingerprints, they expected to conclude investigations by Friday before determining the next course of action.

Detectives have also obtained CCTV footage from cameras at the Gilgil weighbridge, Ogola said.

However, he said the legal team had been unable to obtain the recordings for its own use despite securing a court order compelling the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to release them.

“Our officers at the headquarters have been visiting KeNHA offices daily, but it appears they are reluctant to release the footage,” he said.

Ogola said the team was considering returning to court to cite KeNHA for contempt if the footage continued to be withheld.

He criticised the slow pace of the investigations, arguing that the case should not be difficult to resolve because the vehicle and people involved were known.

“One of the things we are waiting for to ensure that there is no foul play is to obtain the CCTV footage from KeNHA and compare it with what was captured by the dashboard camera,” he said.

Ogola also raised concerns over changes made to the vehicle’s registration and chassis numbers shortly after the legal team obtained the details.

“We understand that immediately we got the registration of the motor vehicle and the chassis number, a few hours later it was changed. But I think once we have everything, we will take the necessary action,” he said.

Last Friday, Nakuru Chief Magistrate Tito Maoga ordered KeNHA to release CCTV footage from the Gilgil Weighbridge that could shed light on the alleged abduction.

The court ordered the authority to provide a comprehensive copy of relevant footage covering the area from 9 pm or thereabouts on September 1, 2026, when Kiprotich was allegedly seized by armed men.

The order followed an urgent application by Kiprotich, through Ogola, after efforts to obtain the recordings directly from KeNHA allegedly went unanswered.

According to court documents, Kiprotich was travelling with his driver along the Gilgil-Nakuru Highway when four heavily armed men allegedly stopped their vehicle near the weighbridge.

The men allegedly dragged him from the car, handcuffed and blindfolded him, before bundling him into the back of a getaway vehicle.

Kiprotich says he was driven around for hours before being dumped near Masinga Dam. He was found in the early hours of September 2.

His lawyers say the CCTV footage could establish what happened at the point where he was allegedly taken and provide leads on the people and vehicles involved. They also want it compared with footage from the vehicle’s dashboard camera.

The lawyers have warned that delays could result in the loss of crucial evidence because CCTV systems can overwrite older recordings.

The September abduction came barely two months after Kiprotich said he survived another attempt to abduct him.

Court documents state that he was targeted on June 27, 2026, while heading to work. He reported the incident at Menengai Police Station and, through his lawyers, wrote to the Director of the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau on June 30.