Journalist Beaten Up & Handcuffed at County Offices

A journalist attached to People Daily, Noah Kipkogei, was beaten up by askaris at Nakuru County offices while following up on a story.

The journalist had gone to visit the County Attorney, Caleb Nyamwange, when he was attacked by the askaris as The Standard reported.

“I was told to wait for him outside but I told them that it was a public office hence, they shouldn’t make it look like a military camp.

"They did not take kindly my protest and they descended on me like a thief,” he told the publication.

Kipkogei narrated that he was dragged out of the premises and handcuffed before he was saved by the county communications officer. 

Kenyan Union of Journalists (KUJ) Nakuru Chairperson, Mercy Kahenda, called on the police to take action on the offenders while at the same time demanded answers from Nakuru Governor, Lee Kinyanjui

“We demand an explanation from Governor Kinyanjui on why county askaris always assault harmless journalists on duty. The right to access information is enshrined in the Constitution,” she stated.

This is not the first time a journalist has been assaulted by county officials.

On June 11, 2019, a camera belonging to Citizen TV was damaged after Wajir County Press Director, Ahmed Abdishakur, allegedly assaulted journalists in an event that was being presided over by Governor Mohamed Abdi Mohamud.

The governor was distributing items to farmers in the county when some of them missed out.

While the journalists interviewed some of the residents who wanted to air out their grievances, the county press director reportedly started assaulting them.

"He beat up my colleague from STN and then he hit my camera and broke the lens," Abdiqafar, a Citizen TV journalist had stated.

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