IG Kanja Orders Probe into Alleged Abduction of Standard Group Editor Alex Kiprotich.

Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich’s abduction in Gilgil, Nakuru County, has been the subject of an immediate and transparent investigation as ordered by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.

The National Police Service (NPS) has received reports of the kidnapping of Kiprotich on Tuesday, which has prompted an urgent move to investigate the matter, it said.

NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said the police service was taking the issue seriously as kidnapping and abduction is a serious crime which poses a risk to the Kenyan people’s lives, liberty and security.

Nyaga said the National Police Service has taken kidnapping and abduction seriously, highlighting the importance of investigating what went on and determining the perpetrators.

The order by the Inspector General comes following the rising worry over the reported disappearance of Kiprotich. Police have been ordered to investigate the circumstances that led to the alleged incident including the place, who was involved and Kiprotich’s whereabouts.

The investigations will be carried out in an open way while the authorities are trying to get to the bottom of the reported abduction, the NPS said.

Kiprotich is an associate editor at one of Kenya’s leading media organisations, Standard Group. The abduction case has since garnered significant attention in the media and among the public, prompting a demand for the authorities to act quickly and determine his safety and what actually happened.

The police service once again stated that protecting citizens is one of its duties and in cases of alleged unlawful detention or disappearance of a person, the police must look into the matter quickly.

It is also hoped that the investigation will prove that the incident is indeed an abduction/abductions and also provide answers regarding the cause/s of the alleged abduction.

Police have not given details so far on the circumstances surrounding Kiprotich’s disappearance and have appealed for the public to give investigators time to investigate.

The NPS argued that it would keep updating the public as it’s able to do so.

The case is coming on the heels of concerns being raised on the safety of journalists and media workers in Kenya. Journalists regularly work in difficult conditions while performing their duties to inform and hold institutions to account.

A journalist’s involvement in an incident thus gives rise to questions of the safety of journalists and the environment in which they work.

The Inspector General’s order will give the matter closer scrutiny as investigators follow up to understand what happened in regards to the alleged incident.

The investigation continues, and more details will be provided by police when they’re certain.

The NPS has stated that the allegations will be addressed in accordance with the procedures outlined in its investigations and the law will be followed if it is found someone has broken it.

The investigation, which is ongoing, will focus on finding out what happened to Kiprotich and establishing the facts surrounding his alleged abduction.

The police service has made it clear that the incident is being treated seriously as a security issue, with investigators following all possible avenues to find the cause of the incident.