The Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) has raised concerns over the abduction of Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich.
Armed men intercepted him along the Gilgil-Nakuru highway on the night of September 1, held him for several hours, and later dumped him near Masinga Dam.
In its statement, BAKE joined Kiprotich’s family and the Standard Group team in expressing relief at his safe return, while warning that the incident points to a deepening pattern of intimidation against journalists.
According to the association, Kiprotich’s captors questioned him specifically about the Standard Group’s news gathering processes and editorial decision-making, a detail BAKE says makes clear the abduction was a direct attack on journalistic work rather than a random crime.
This is the second reported attempt on Kiprotich’s life in 2026. Armed men made a similar attempt to seize him in June as he drove to work.
With two incidents targeting the same journalist within a few months over his editorial role, BAKE argues that the pattern suggests coordination rather than coincidence.
BAKE says this is not a one-off case. Kenyan journalists and content creators keep facing this kind of harassment, especially when they cover sensitive stories or work through politically charged periods.
READ: BAKE Wants New Office to Protect Kenya’s Digital Creators
The association also pointed to its legal victory in March 2026, when the Court of Appeal declared Sections 22 and 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act unconstitutional. The court found that the vague provisions on “false information” could be used to silence legitimate reporting.
Despite that legal victory, BAKE said journalists still face safety risks while doing their work in the field.
The association is now calling on the government to order an independent and transparent investigation into the abduction, uphold media freedoms under Article 34 of the Constitution, protect journalists ahead of and during elections, and end all harassment of media professionals and civil society.
BAKE describes attacks on journalists as attacks on the public’s right to know and says it will keep pushing for a safer environment for bloggers, content creators, and journalists across Kenya.
