The Standard criticises delay in investigating Alex Kiprotich abduction

Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich at the Standard Group Center on September 02, 2026 after he was abducted along the Gilgil–Nakuru Road by armed men alongside his driver on August 01, 2026. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

The Standard Group has criticised the authorities for the delay in investigating the abduction of its Associate Editor, Alex Kiprotich.

Yesterday, lawyer Gordon Ogolla, representing the media house and the company’s chief security officer, Tom Kipyegon, said they were led to believe that the investigation would start immediately.

However, more than 24 hours after the incident, no action had been taken.

The two accompanied Kiprotich and the driver, Geoffrey Kamau, to the Rift Valley Regional Directorate of Criminal Investigation Offices in Nakuru to record statements about the incident.

Despite the matter being reported on Tuesday night and the recovery of the vehicles and the victims, the DCI delayed in dusting the vehicles for fingerprints and recording statements from the victims.

According to Ogolla, they took the initiative to present themselves and the vehicle to the Regional Criminal Investigations in Nakuru.

"After the abduction of Kiprotich on Tuesday night, the Inspector of Police and the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen all promised that they were going to take action, which since then has not been taken," lawyer Gordon Ogolla said.

"Today we decided to present ourselves to the Regional Criminal Investigations headquarters to present the vehicles for forensic investigations and have Kiprotich and the driver Geoffrey Kamau write statements," he said.

Ogolla criticised the delays, noting that the vehicle used by the victims on the fateful night should have been impounded by the DCI if the DCI had an interest in the matter.

"Since nothing has happened since then, it forced us to come here," he added.

Kipyegon also questioned why the directorate is yet to present the vehicle that was used by the abductors.

"We need the other vehicle; it has a lot of forensic evidence to be produced. We have witnessed a lot of drama on the transfer of the vehicle ownership, which is being done in a record of three hours, but we expect the directorate to discharge their mandate and produce the people who abducted Alex," Kipyegon said.

During the Friday visit, the forensic officers managed to dust and lift fingerprints from the vehicle that Kiprotich and his driver were using.

Kipyegon called on the directorate to speed up the investigations, noting that the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority is also involved.

Ogolla added that they will file a constitutional petition in Nakuru or Nairobi against the harassment, intimidation and legal abduction.

"Given that this had also happened before, we will also be seeking conservatory orders to make sure the repeat of the same does not happen," Ogolla noted.

Kiprotich was safely found on 2 September 2026, after a harrowing nine-hour abduction by four armed, masked men along the Gilgil-Nakuru highway.

The senior journalist was targeted on Tuesday night, 1 September 2026, shortly before 9:20 p.m., while driving to Nakuru City.

Dashcam footage captured his captors stopping his vehicle and forcing him out at gunpoint.

He was driven over 200 kilometres and left around 2:00 a.m. near Masinga Dam in Machakos County.