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Attack on journalists in Homa Bay condemned

Tuesday, March 14th, 2023 05:00 | By
Attack on journalists in Homa Bay condemned

Public outrage greeted the brutal attack on a group of journalists by goons at a function in Homa Bay with media stakeholders and local politicians threatening legal action against the perpetrators.

Led by former Homa Bay governor aspirant Evans Kidero, the leaders demanded security officers apprehend the goons.

“I condemn in the strongest terms possible the malicious attack and violence meted out to journalists and officials of the Luo Council of Elders in press conference at a Homa Bay hotel.”

“We are demanding the police move fast and take decisive action against perpetrators of this brutal action against journalists who were covering the event. The goons were political hirelings of top county government officials and it is not the first time they are unleashing violence on perceived enemies of their paymaster or pay-mistress,” said Kidero.

Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) Secretary General Eric Oduor condemned the incident and threatened to hire private lawyers to pursue justice for the scribes if police fail to bring perpetrators to book.

“We condemn the attacks on the journalists and demand immediate action against the youth and their paymaster. These are people, nay goons, who were mobilised to disrupt a meeting and, therefore, are well-known and must be arrested, failure to which KUJ will institute private prosecution of the goons because they are known,” said Oduor.

The outrage came as police said they are investigating the incident.

Homa Bay County Police Commander Samson Kinne said the incident is being investigated and punitive legal measures will be taken against the culprits.

“The youths committed a crime by attacking journalists who were covering elders preaching peace. They must face punitive legal measures. Some of them have been identified,” Kinne said.

The journalists were covering members of the Luo Council of Elders meeting in a hotel on Saturday evening. The journalists attacked by rowdy youths include George Odiwuor (Nation Media Group), Aly Abich (Royal Media Services), Florence Ochieng’ (Radio Lake Victoria), Joseph Onyango (Radio Nam Lolwe), James Latano (Royal Media Services), Robert Omollo (Radio Africa Group), Dickens Ochieng (Sky FM), Lavender Oketch (Arise FM) and Florence Owiti (Tuko News).

Odiwuor sustained stomach injuries and pain after one the youths assaulted him. He sought treatment at Homa Bay County Referral Hospital.

 Odiwuor said he was suddenly attacked by the youths who complained they were not happy with the media coverage they were giving some politicians in the region.

 He said the attackers started streaming in when they were still conducting the interview but kept a distant away.

 “They (youths) descended on us immediately after we concluded the interview. One of them pounced on my stomach with fists and blows,” Odiwuor said.

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has in the past expressed concern about continued attacks on journalists by government officials, claiming that it is undermining the media’s role in serving the public.

In January, David Omwoyo, MCK chief executive, issued a statement warning political leaders not to unfairly criticise the media in public, saying it exposes its members to physical attacks and erodes trust in the industry’s role as the society’s watchdog.

Last week, Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot told off the media in his continued onslaught on the Fourth Estate, hinting it’s the next target in the “government’s onslaught on cartels”.

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