Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has made serious claims over the abduction of Standard Media Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich, alleging that he has information linking the incident to efforts to stop the journalist from publishing an investigative story.
Kiprotich was reportedly accosted by armed men along the Gilgil–Nakuru Road on Tuesday night before he was later found abandoned near Masinga Dam on Wednesday morning.
His abduction sparked widespread concern and condemnation, with questions being raised over the identity and motive of the people behind the incident.
Gachagua, who leads the Democracy for the Citizens (DCP) party, claimed that Kiprotich had been preparing to travel to the Mau Forest for an assignment concerning compensation money meant for thousands of evictees from the Kipsigis community.
“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.
The former Deputy President further alleged that the journalist was preparing an exposé detailing how the compensation funds had allegedly been lost, leaving the affected families without the money they were expecting.
“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.”
Gachagua went further to allege that the abduction was discussed during a meeting involving President William Ruto and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Monday evening. He claimed the alleged objective was to prevent Kiprotich from publishing the story.
He also alleged that DCI Director Mohamed Amin was instructed to monitor Kiprotich and that a team was subsequently assembled to follow the journalist.
“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.
Gachagua claimed that the same team was responsible for the abduction and alleged that an earlier plan to eliminate Kiprotich was abandoned after footage of the incident emerged and caused public outrage.
“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 further claimed that the alleged covert operation involved dozens of police officers, accusing the security establishment of operating outside the law. Gachagua also questioned whether the police could conduct an independent investigation into the matter.
“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.
The allegations come amid investigations into the vehicle reportedly used during the abduction. Footage from Kiprotich’s dashcam showed a Subaru allegedly involved in the incident bearing registration number KDG 125E.
A search on the National Transport and Safety Authority portal reportedly showed that the registration number was issued to a Honda Fit in December 2021 and registered in the name of Alex Maunda Wanyonyi.
The information has raised further questions about the vehicle and whether it was being used by the people who abducted Kiprotich.
The incident has also drawn attention because it was reportedly Kiprotich’s second encounter with suspected abductors. In June this year, he survived an attempted abduction and reported the incident at Menengai Police Station.
The Standard Group previously 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.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has denied any involvement by police officers in the latest incident. He has directed the Anti-Abduction Unit to immediately investigate the circumstances surrounding Kiprotich’s abduction and establish the identities of the armed men involved.
Gachagua’s claims have not been established as facts, and the allegations involving government and security officials remain subject to investigation.
The police inquiry is therefore expected to determine what happened to Kiprotich, who was behind the abduction and the motive for taking him from the road before he was later found safe.
