NPS Breaks Silence on Abduction of Standard Group Editor

The National Police Service (NPS) has broken its silence on the alleged kidnapping of Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich in Gilgil on Tuesday, September 1.

In a statement on Wednesday, September 2, the police service said it had taken note of the reports and moved swiftly to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident.

The NPS said it considers kidnapping and abduction serious offences because of the threat they pose to the safety and freedom of Kenyans.

"The NPS treats kidnapping and abduction with the utmost seriousness, as these grave offences threaten the lives, liberty and security of Kenyans," the statement read.

According to the NPS, the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, has directed that immediate investigations be conducted to establish what happened, including identifying the armed individuals reportedly involved in the incident.

"The Inspector General of Police has accordingly ordered immediate investigations to determine what transpired, including the identity of the heavily armed individuals reportedly seen ordering occupants out of their vehicle," the statement added.

The NPS said its Anti-Abduction Unit, which was established specifically to deal with cases of abductions and disappearances, had taken up the investigation.

"Our Anti-Abduction Unit, specifically established to address abductions and disappearances, is actively investigating and will ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice," the statement further read.

The NPS noted the relationship between the police and the media, condemning any actions targeting press freedom or other constitutional rights.

"The police and media are partners in serving the public interest by safeguarding Kenya’s constitutional order. We unequivocally condemn any act of kidnapping, abduction, or intimidation intended to interfere with press freedom or any other constitutional right," the statement concluded.

Earlier Wednesday, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) raised fresh concerns over the safety of journalists following the reported abduction.

In a statement on Wednesday, September 2, MCK CEO David Omwoyo called for immediate investigations into the incident, Kanja to establish the circumstances surrounding Kiprotich’s abduction.

"The Media Council of Kenya wants the Inspector General (IG) of the Police Mr Douglas Kanja to undertake immediate, thorough and transparent investigations to establish the circumstances under which Standard Group Associate Editor, Alex Kiprotich was taken hostage last night along the Gilgil-Nakuru Road and later abandoned in Machakos," the statement read.

Omwoyo said the country's security agencies have intelligence capabilities that can be used to identify and arrest those behind crimes targeting journalists, but expressed concern that such cases have continued to receive inadequate action.

"The Council believes that the Country's security agencies have the capability to use their intelligence networks to investigate and arrest the perpetrators of the crimes against journalists but choose to ignore the matter. We hope the police will feel compelled to act on this flagrant disregard of human rights and press freedom," the statement added.

MCK said Kiprotich’s latest ordeal is the second incident in which the journalist has faced such circumstances, with no progress report from the relevant security agencies. The previous incident occurred in Nakuru County.

"This is the second time Kiprotich has gone through such an ordeal with no progress report on the investigations by relevant security organs in the country. The last such incident was in Nakuru County," the statement further read.

MCK also expressed concern over what it described as the recent trolling and profiling of editors from different media organisations on social media, noting that editors at Nation Media Group were among those recently targeted.

"The Council is equally concerned over the recent trolling and profiling of several editors from different media houses on social media. The most recent case involved editors from the Nation Media Group.

"Media Freedom is guaranteed under Article 34 of the Constitution and should be guarded zealously by all. The State bears the responsibility of ensuring that journalists are not intimidated or harassed because attacks on the media are a threat to democracy," the statement concluded.