Sifuna condemns abduction of Standard Group associate editor

Edwin Sifuna says the abduction of Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich will become a central issue in his movement’s campaign to defeat President William Ruto in Kenya’s 2027 general election.

The Nairobi senator condemned the arrest and abduction while speaking in Bumula Constituency during the burial of Mary Goreti, the sister of Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah. He accused the Ruto administration of weakening constitutional freedoms and creating an atmosphere of fear.

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It is impossible that you are driving on the road and you are taken away the way the way the Standard Group Journaliat and Editor Alex Kiprotich was taken. Kenyans want to live in a free country. We do not want to live in fear.

“It is impossible that you are driving on the road and you are taken away the way the way the Standard Group Journaliat and Editor Alex Kiprotich was taken. Kenyans want to live in a free country. We do not want to live in fear,” Sifuna said.

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You cannot just arrest a senior journalist in the middle of the road with police carrying firearms, then you dump him some 500 kilometres near the dam, a country cannot have democracy if media is not being respected and allowed to do it's work as per the constitution.

He questioned how the incident took place and argued that journalists must receive protection if Kenya is to remain a democracy. “You cannot just arrest a senior journalist in the middle of the road with police carrying firearms, then you dump him some 500 kilometres near the dam, a country cannot have democracy if media is not being respected and allowed to do it's work as per the constitution,” he said.

Sifuna said the Linda Mwananchi movement would focus on constitutionalism, democracy, individual freedoms and the rule of law, rather than simply removing the current administration. With less than 11 months remaining, he said, the movement wanted to return Kenya to the “six important values” in the Constitution. He also accused the government of threatening political opponents and said investors could hesitate to establish businesses in Kenya if authorities could order them to leave arbitrarily.

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With less than 11 months remaining, we want to tell Kenyans that our entire plan is to return this country to the rails of the six important values contained in our Constitution, including democracy, freedom of citizens and the rule of law.