BY OCHIENG CLINTON: Fresh allegations have emerged surrounding the reported abduction of The Standard Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich, raising sharp questions over the independence and effectiveness of investigations ordered by the National Police Service.

In a statement posted to his official Facebook page and addressed to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua accused senior government and police officials of interfering with law enforcement operations.

Gachagua claimed that previous internal investigations ordered by police leadership have consistently failed to yield results.

“Bwana IG, I have seen that you have purported to order a thorough investigation into the abduction of Alex Kiprotich, the Associate Editor of the Standard Media Group. That investigation, like all the others you have ordered, will go nowhere because it was done by police officers outside your command,” read the Facebook post of Mr Gachagua’a official page.

He further noted, “You are clueless about the operations of the National Police Service. I do have more information as to the happenings in the Service than you do. The National Police Service was taken over a long time ago by Mr. Kipchumba Murkomen and Mr. Raymond Omollo, with the concurrence of Mr. William Ruto; orders are directly issued to your DIG, Eliud Langat, and DCI Mohamed Amin. You are just a flower girl leading a shell, and you will be sacrificed at the right time and blamed for the excesses in the Service.”

According to the statement, Kiprotich was preparing an investigative story on financial irregularities surrounding the compensation of Mau Forest evictees prior to his disappearance.

Gachagua further asserted that a high-level meeting involving President William Ruto and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen preceded the journalist’s alleged abduction, alleging that senior police and investigative officers executed a coordinated surveillance and kidnapping operation.

“Alex was to publish an exposé giving a blow-by-blow account of how the funds have been stolen, leaving the evictees helpless and in anguish. A late-night meeting on Monday evening between William Ruto and Kipchumba Murkomen sealed the fate of Alex Kiprotich, where it was decided that he had to be stopped. The DCI, Mohamed Amin, was instructed to put Alex under 24-hour surveillance. The DCI assembled a team headed by one Mr. Zachary Kariuki, who, though retired, has been recalled by Amin to coordinate this squad trained in abductions, killings, and cover-ups.”

None of the claims made in the statement have been independently verified by the National Police Service or any independent body.

The former Deputy President also linked Kiprotich’s disappearance to other unresolved cases, including the death of Rachel Wandeto, attacks on several churches, and reported killings in Ol Kalou, challenging the Inspector General to release the findings of those inquiries.

Additionally, Gachagua criticized the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), accusing the watchdog of failing to hold officers accountable and alleging that the rule of law has effectively been suspended in the country.

The developments come amid heightened public concern over press freedom, media safety, and the rise of alleged abductions and enforced disappearances.

Police authorities have yet to issue an official response to the specific allegations.