MCK Chief Executive Officer and Secretary to the Council David Omwoyo. File Photo. 
By Andrew Mbuva
The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has demanded an immediate, thorough and transparent investigation into the abduction of Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich, who was reportedly taken hostage along the Gilgil-Nakuru Road before being abandoned in Machakos.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, MCK Chief Executive Officer and Secretary to the Council David Omwoyo called on Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
According to the Council, video footage captured during the incident shows armed individuals blocking Kiprotich’s vehicle before ordering the occupants to lower the windows and get out.
The footage, MCK said, depicts the journalist as “extremely fearful, intimidated and threatened” during the encounter.
The Council expressed concern over what it described as a growing pattern of impunity surrounding crimes against journalists, arguing that security agencies have the intelligence capacity to identify and apprehend perpetrators but have failed to make meaningful progress in several cases.
MCK said it has previously documented and presented numerous cases involving violations of press freedom and crimes against journalists to the Inspector General of Police for investigation and prosecution, but with little success.
The Council further revealed that the latest incident is the second ordeal involving Kiprotich, noting that the journalist had previously reported an attempted abduction in Nakuru County.
MCK said no one was arrested following the earlier incident, despite the journalist reporting the matter to police, raising concerns over the lack of progress in investigations.
The Council warned that continued impunity for crimes against journalists, coupled with increasing violations of press freedom, poses a serious threat to independent journalism and access to information in Kenya.
It noted that one of the major challenges in protecting journalists has consistently been the failure to investigate and prosecute violations against members of the media.
MCK also raised concerns over the recent trolling and profiling of editors from various media houses on social media platforms, citing the latest case involving editors from Nation Media Group.
The Council reminded the Government that media freedom is protected under Article 34 of the Constitution, stressing that journalists should not be intimidated or harassed in the course of performing their duties.
“Attacks on the media are a threat to democracy,” the Council warned, urging the State to protect journalists and safeguard press freedom.
The statement was issued in Nairobi on September 2, 2026, by MCK Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo, MBS.
