HOMA BAY, Kenya — Outrage has erupted following the assault and harassment of at least four journalists by security officers while they were covering the Madaraka Day celebrations at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay on Sunday.
Among those who sustained injuries were KTN TV producer Steve Okedi, Royal Media Services journalist Ephantus Maina, and Nation Media Group (NMG) producer Mable Achieng’. Maina and Achieng’ received immediate medical attention from the Red Cross team present at the venue.
Okedi recounted that despite presenting his official media accreditation, security officers forcibly pushed him, resulting in a leg injury. He was only granted access to the stadium after the intervention of a senior officer.
Achieng’ reported arriving at the stadium by 5 a.m., as instructed during a media briefing by the Regional Commissioner, yet she was still physically mishandled. “They kept pushing us and eventually started hitting us. That is how I got injured, alongside other residents,” she stated.
Amidst the commotion, NMG correspondent George Odiwuor reported the loss of his phone and laptop, and another unnamed journalist was also subjected to assault.
“The incidents witnessed today are not only shocking but amount to interference and suppression of the freedom of the press as enshrined in Articles 33 and 34 of the Kenyan Constitution,” declared Oudia. He accused police officers of “utter irresponsibility and brazenness,” emphasizing that security personnel tasked with public protection instead directed their force against journalists.
The Interim Chairman of the Kenya Journalists Network (KJN), Rushdie Oudia, condemned the attacks as a “blatant violation of press freedom,” noting that journalists with valid accreditation were denied entry and violently repelled by officers stationed at the main gate.
The KJN has called for a comprehensive investigation into the incidents and demands that those responsible be held accountable. The network has urged the Office of the President, the Ministry of Interior, and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to take swift action.
“We must protect the dignity and freedom of journalists who are simply doing their work in service to the public,” Oudia asserted.
