Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has condemned the reported abduction of Standard Media Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich, demanding his immediate and unconditional release.
Owino described journalism as a legitimate profession and warned that the reported disappearance of the senior journalist should concern every Kenyan who values press freedom and the rule of law.
The lawmaker said the incident went beyond the targeting of an individual journalist, arguing that it represented a broader threat to the media and citizens’ right to live without fear.
“This is not merely an attack on one journalist; it is an attack on press freedom, the rule of law, and every Kenyan’s right to live without fear,” Owino said.
He called on the National Police Service and other security agencies to move urgently to establish Kiprotich’s whereabouts and secure his safe return.
Owino also demanded a full and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the reported abduction, insisting that those responsible should face legal consequences.
The MP said investigations should establish not only those who physically participated in the alleged abduction but also anyone who may have ordered or facilitated the operation.
“Those responsible, including anyone who ordered, facilitated, or participated in this heinous act, must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he said.
Kiprotich’s reported abduction comes barely two months after he allegedly escaped an earlier attempt to seize him in Nakuru.
In the June incident, four armed men travelling in a Toyota Probox reportedly attempted to take Kiprotich from his vehicle. He is said to have escaped by locking himself inside his car and driving away.
The Standard Group later raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding the attempted abduction, while the Committee to Protect Journalists called for an investigation.
The latest incident has therefore renewed concerns about the safety of journalists in Kenya, particularly amid heightened scrutiny of the media’s role in reporting on political and security affairs.
Video of the Reported Abduction of Standard Journalist Alex Kiprotich
Owino said remaining silent was not an option, calling for transparency and accountability from the authorities.
“Silence is not an option. We demand answers. We demand justice. We demand Alex’s safe return,” he said.