BY OCHIENG CLINTON: Jubilee Party presidential candidate Fred Matiang’i has condemned the abduction of a Standard Media Group associate editor, warning that attacks on journalists endanger Kenya’s democratic values and press freedom.

Speaking during an interview on a local radio station on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, Matiang’i said that the abduction of Alex Kiprotich, who was later found dumped near Masinga Dam in Machakos after being missing for about nine hours, is unacceptable in a country that has built its reputation internationally around press freedom and freedom of expression.

He warned against individuals with government authority using their power to intimidate or silence journalists, arguing that Kenya has a long history of defending the rights of citizens and the media to speak out freely, and those efforts must not be in vain.

The former Cabinet Secretary also urged journalists and others involved in information gathering and dissemination to uphold unity and stand together in condemning attacks on press freedom.