Selective justice: Siaya arrests raise queries on editor abduction probe

The swift arrest of suspects accused of obstructing First Lady Rachel Ruto’s motorcade in Siaya has sparked questions regarding the pace of investigations into last week’s abduction of Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich.

In the incident that occurred on Tuesday, police acted swiftly, apprehending suspects within hours, while the identification and arrest of four police officers alleged to have abducted Kiprotich along the Nakuru-Gilgil highway is still dragging on.

This disparity in investigative speed has ignited discussions about what critics term “selective justice,” leading many Kenyans to question whether law enforcement agencies prioritise cases based on the individuals involved.

The First Lady and other dignitaries who had accompanied her were headed to an empowerment drive for women's groups in the county.

The group, according to sources, was eyeing handouts from the leaders who had attended an empowerment event that was attended by Ms Ruto, Speaker George Okode, Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga, and Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi in Siaya.

But unlike other cases of attacks that have taken ages to resolve and others ignored, police on Wednesday nabbed 12 suspects believed to have been part of the group that had attempted to block the dignitaries.

The arrest of the suspects elicited debate on selective justice as some wondered why some suspects were being given special treatment. The suspects are being held in police custody as detectives process them for arraignment and pursue other people who may have been involved.

While the suspects in the Siaya incident were identified, tracked down and arrested, four men believed to be security officers who were captured on video during Kiprotich’s alleged abduction are yet to be arrested, with investigators still seeking evidence to establish their identities.

The Standard, however, was unable to obtain any video recording of the alleged disturbance involving the First Lady’s motorcade in Siaya.

But even as the DCI moved swiftly to make arrests, sections of Kenyans on social media questioned what they described as an uneven approach to investigations. Some users contrasted the Siaya arrests with the reported recent abduction of the Standard Group editor, demanding to know whether suspects had been identified and arrested in that case.

Others pointed to the chaos witnessed during the Linda Mwananchi rally in Homa Bay, questioning the progress of investigations and whether those responsible had been brought to book.

The online debate has centred on what critics describe as “selective justice”, with some users arguing that police appear more decisive when incidents involve disruption of events attended by senior government officials.

However, while detectives acted swiftly in Siaya, the investigation into Kiprotich’s abduction now hinges on crucial CCTV footage held by Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) which manages the Gilgil Weighbridge.

The agency has been thrust into renewed scrutiny after it emerged over ten police officers visited the KeNHA offices in Gilgil on Friday last week, seeking access to CCTV footage related to Kiprotich’s abduction.

The officers, who arrived in three Subaru vehicles, requested access to the CCTV system, server, and hard drives containing footage from the Gilgil area, including the junction where Kiprotich is believed to have been seized.

However, officials at the are reported at the facility denied direct access, stating that the footage is archived and stored at KeNHA’s central ICT facility in Nairobi. According to a source familiar with the situation, the officers were informed that access to the material must adhere to legal and administrative procedures. The officers were advised to obtain a court order and have their superiors submit a formal request to KeNHA management for the footage.

“The Data Protection Act is very clear on what, why and how information collected from CCTV cameras is used,” the source stated.

As of Wednesday, The Standard could not confirm whether KeNHA had received a formal request from the DCI for the CCTV footage.

Kiprotich was abducted shortly before 9:20 pm last week while traveling along the Gilgil-Nakuru road. Accounts indicate that armed men intercepted him before he was driven away. He was later found abandoned near Masinga Dam in Machakos County.

The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from journalists’ organizations and civil society groups who labeled it a serious escalation in the intimidation of journalists.

This was not the first reported attempt to intercept Kiprotich; on June 27, 2026, armed men in a Toyota Probox reportedly tried to stop him as he drove to work in Nakuru. That vehicle was later traced to the National Police Service’s Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau.

Meanwhile, the DCI has defended the arrests, saying citizens have a right to assemble and express themselves peacefully but that such freedoms do not extend to violence, obstruction of lawful operations or attacks on police officers.

The agency warned that individuals who resort to violence and disorder would be held accountable in accordance with the law. The contrasting reactions have nevertheless placed the conduct of law-enforcement agencies under renewed public scrutiny, particularly over whether investigations are conducted with the same urgency regardless of the circumstances or persons involved.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen condemned Kiprotich’s abduction, describing it as “embarrassing and barbaric” and urging the Inspector General of Police to enhance the security of journalists as Kenya approaches the 2027 General Election.

The contrasting pace of the two investigations has now placed the DCI, Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the broader National Police Service under renewed scrutiny over what critics termed as selective execution justice.