Standard Group editor rescued after kidnapping, found near Masinga Dam
Alex Kiprotich, an associate editor for Standard Group, was seized by armed men near Nakuru and released unharmed near Masinga Dam later that night.
Standard Group confirmed that associate editor Alex Kiprotich was abducted by four armed, masked men near Nakuru just before 9:20 p.m. on Tuesday. The group shared dash-cam footage that captured the attackers emerging from a parked vehicle and the victim's cries. After being held for several hours, Kiprotich was abandoned near the Masinga Dam, more than 200 km southeast of the city, and was found unharmed.
The company linked this episode to a similar failed seizure in June, attributing both to Kiprotich's journalistic work. Standard Group CEO Chaacha Mwita condemned the event as a blow to Kenya's claimed media freedoms. Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga has not responded to inquiries, and the broader context includes numerous reported abductions of critics since June 2024.
Why it matters
The abduction highlights ongoing threats to journalists and press freedom in Kenya.
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