Gachagua claims Standard Group Editor Kiprotich abduction linked to Mau evictees' exposé

Kiprotich was accosted by armed men along the Gilgil–Nakuru Road on Tuesday night and later found dumped near Masinga Dam on Wednesday morning.

According to the opposition politician, Kiprotich was preparing to publish an exposé on how funds dedicated to thousands of Mau evictees from the Kipsigis community were looted.

"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 under the direction of Mr. Murkomen and Mr. Raymond Omollo. This money has been paid by the duo to their brokers and proxies," Gachagua claimed in a statement.

"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."

The Democracy for the Citizens (DCP) party leader intimated that Kiprotich's abduction was decided during a late-night meeting on Monday evening between President William Ruto and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to stop him from running the damning story.

He alleged that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) director Mohamed Amin was ordered to assemble a team that would put Kiprotich under close observation with the aim of "eliminate him", but plans changed upon the release of the abduction footage on Wednesday.

"The DCI, Mr. Mohamed Amin, was instructed to put Alex under 24-hour surveillance. The DCI assembled a team headed by one Mr. Zachary Kariuki, who, though retired, has been recalled by Amin to coordinate this squad trained in abductions, killings, and cover-ups," he said.

"This is the team that abducted Alex Kiprotich and was instructed to abandon the earlier plan to eliminate him after the abduction was captured live and provoked public outrage."

He claimed that the covert squad operates with 60 rogue police officers specifically dispatched to abduct Kenyans.

The DCP boss added that the said commitment by the National Police Service (NPS) to probe the abduction is dead in the water, saying that the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, is powerless at the helm of Kenya's key security unit.

"You are clueless about the operations of the National Police Service. I do have more information as to the happenings in the Service than you do. The NPS was taken over a long time ago by Mr. Kipchumba Murkomen and Mr. Raymond Omollo, with the concurrence of Mr. William Ruto; orders are directly issued to your DIG, Eliud Langat, and DCI Mohamed Amin," he claimed.

Investigations conducted with the aid of footage released from Kiprotich's dashcam showed that the Subaru the abductors used in the abduction bore registration number KDG 125E.

A search on the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) portal showed the number plate was registered to a Honda Fit in December 2021 belonging to Alex Maunda Wanyonyi. 

The ordeal, condemned by many leaders and Kenyans, was Kiprotich's second encounter with abductors, as in June this year, Kiprotich survived an attempted abduction and reported the matter at Menengai Police Station.

The Standard Group said its investigations had linked the vehicle involved in the June incident to officers attached to the National Police Service’s Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau in Nakuru.

IG Kanja has denied police involvement in the case, directing the Anti-Abduction Unit to immediately investigate the incident, including the identity of the armed abductors.