Editor's Review

Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich was preparing an exposé on an alleged Mau Forest compensation scam when he was abducted. 

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich was preparing an exposé on an alleged Mau Forest compensation scam when he was abducted. 

In a statement on Wednesday, September 2, Gachagua claimed that thousands of Mau Forest evictees had lost millions in compensation funds.

According to Gachagua, the money was allegedly diverted to some government officials through proxies, leaving affected families without the funds they were entitled to. 

“Mr. Alex Kiprotich was preparing for an assignment in the Mau Forest, where thousands of Mau evictees from the Kipsigis community have been conned out of millions of shillings in compensation money by officials of the National Government Administration,” Gachagua claimed.  

He added, “Alex was to publish an exposé giving a blow-by-blow account of how the funds have been stolen, leaving the evictees helpless and in anguish.” 

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  2. NPS Breaks Silence on Abduction of Standard Group Editor
  3. Standard Group Editor Alex Kiprotich Found After Abduction Along Gilgil–Nakuru Road

File image of Alex Kiprotich.

The former DP rubbished the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja’s decision to order investigations into Kiprotich’s abduction, arguing that previous police investigations into alleged abuses had not yielded results.

“Mr. Kanja, before you order investigations into the abduction of Alex, kindly first release the findings of the previous investigations you ordered,” Gachagua stated. 

Kiprotich was abducted on Tuesday night, September 1, by armed individuals along the Gilgil-Nakuru Road.

In an update on Wednesday, September 2, The Standard Group confirmed that Kiprotich was found dumped near the Masinga Dam in Machakos County.

“The Standard Group PLC is relieved to inform the public that our Associate Editor, Alex Kiprotich, has been found safe this morning, following his abduction along the Gilgil-Nakuru highway last night,” the Standard Group said. 

On Wednesday evening, the National Police Service (NPS) said it had taken note of the reports of Kiprotich’s abduction and had moved swiftly to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident.

The service 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.