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• Standard Group released dashcam footage showing armed, masked men blocking a vehicle on the Gilgil–Nakuru Road on the evening of September 1
• The men, reportedly carrying AK-47 rifles, dragged Standard Group associate editor Alex Kiprotich into a white Subaru Forester before driving off
• Standard Group CEO Chaacha Mwita condemned the alleged abduction, holding the State responsible for Kiprotich’s safety as his whereabouts remain unknown

Disturbing dashcam footage released by Standard Group PLC on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, captured what appears to be the forced abduction of the media house’s associate editor, Alex Kiprotich, on the Gilgil–Nakuru Road.

The incident unfolded shortly before 9:20 pm as Kiprotich was travelling towards Nakuru.

What we know about Alex Kiprotich’s abduction

A newer-model white Subaru Forester cut off the vehicle he was in, and four masked men armed with AK-47 rifles poured out from every door of the car.

Occupants of Kiprotich’s vehicle were heard screaming and begging for an explanation as the men closed in.

One of the assailants walked to the front of the car and aimed his rifle directly at the windscreen before banging on the bonnet. The group then roughed up one of the occupants, apparently Kiprotich, and forced him into the back of their Subaru.

The terrified passengers could be heard pleading:

“Please, what mistake have we made? What have we done? Please, just explain to us.”

One of the armed men replied:

“Open the window, open the window. We are going to beat you up. You are going to see things you have never imagined before. Lie down, lie down.”

Notably, the alleged abduction took place in live traffic, with a semi-truck just metres ahead, yet no bystander intervened.

Standard Group says Tuesday night’s incident was not Kiprotich’s first brush with danger.

On June 27, 2026, armed men travelling in a Toyota Probox allegedly attempted to ambush him as he drove to work in Nakuru. He reportedly managed to lock his car doors and accelerate away.

The media house said its own private investigations traced that Toyota Probox to detectives attached to the National Police Service’s Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB) in Nakuru. No suspect was arrested or held accountable following the June attempt.

Significantly, that earlier incident came just days after President William Ruto publicly criticised Standard Group over its news coverage.

The media house described both incidents as bearing the hallmarks of a targeted intimidation campaign, linking them directly to Kiprotich’s editorial work scrutinising the Kenyan government.

What did the Standard Group say about Kiprotich’s abduction?

CEO Chaacha Mwita condemned the abduction in strong terms, demanding Kiprotich’s immediate, safe and unconditional release.

Standard Group also stated plainly that it holds the state responsible for his well-being.

The Law Society of Kenya and the Media Council of Kenya have joined Standard Group in calling for full transparency and urgent information on Kiprotich’s whereabouts.

As of the time of publication, the National Police Service, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and other relevant authorities had yet to make any public statement on the matter. Kiprotich’s whereabouts remain unknown.

Watch the chilling footage below:

Did the Standard Group demand payment from the government?

.co.ke also highlighted facts about the Standard Group’s challenge to the government regarding the KSh 1.2 billion outstanding advertising debt.

This demand came after President William Ruto accused the media house of greed and blackmail, a claim they vehemently reject, insisting they are victims of financial negligence.

As the dispute escalated, the Standard Group underscored the impact of these unpaid bills on its operations and the livelihoods of its employees, raising critical questions about press freedoms and financial accountability in government dealings.