The County Government of Homa Bay has announced the interdiction of a human resource officer linked to the alleged abduction and torture of a journalist.
In a statement on Monday, September 15, shared by Homa Bay County Chief Officer of Public Communication, Atieno Otieno, the county announced the immediate dismissal of the HR officer in the Department of Roads, Transport, and Public Works.
This decision follows accusations over the involvement of the HR officer in the abduction, assault, and intimidation of the People Daily journalist, Habil Onyango, over an investigative article published in the newspaper.
According to Homa Bay County Government, the interdiction of the said officer is a standard procedural measure to allow for a thorough, impartial, and unimpeded investigation into the allegations.
"The County Government is fully cooperating with the National Police Service and other relevant investigative agencies to ensure a comprehensive probe is conducted," said Atieno Otieno.
"Homa Bay County Government wishes to make it unequivocally clear that it condemns in the strongest terms possible any form of violence, intimidation, or criminal activity," he added.
Governor Gladys Wanga's administration further disclosed that the county government would maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards abuse of office by its staff and that any officer found misusing their position to perpetrate wrongdoing would face stern consequences.
Habil Onyango's Abduction
Habil Onyango was reportedly abducted by unknown people on Sunday, September 14, with the Media Council of Kenya revealing that a senior Homa Bay county officer orchestrated the heinous act.
Reports suggest that Habil was abducted, assaulted and intimidated for allegedly covering a fraudulent employment scheme implicating a senior Homa Bay County official.
Onyango was reportedly convinced and lured into one of the hotels within Homa Bay, assaulted and intimidated by unknown people, before he was forcefully made to inhale bhang.
During the incident, Habil's gadgets were confiscated before he was driven around in the county and humiliated with subsequent threats to his life.
"I was abducted because of a story I wrote about the HR officer, who was involved in a corrupt employment scheme where people are given appointment letters without meeting the requisite threshold," said Onyango.
Addressing the press on Monday afternoon, Onyango disclosed that he was abducted by a group of four people who, he said, intimidated and harassed him before he escaped.
They intimidated me and told me to write an apology story claiming that the HR officer was not in any way involved in the corruption scandal that was featured in the story," Habil added.
