Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko on Thursday issued a stern warning to the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) for connecting him to the violence that erupted at Governor Evans Kidero meeting, which saw three journalists injured.
Sonko, who was out of the Capital during the chaos, sharply criticised KUJ noting that the union was "tarnishing his good name by portraying him as a violent leader".
He demanded the union of journalists to carry out proper investigations before linking him to the violence.
"I wish to challenge KUJ for failing to carry out serious investigations on who might have invited the youth against the journalists.
"It is very unfortunate that my name is being dragged into this silly incident yet by the time this was happening I was with H.E the President in Kitui, Embu, Runyenjes, Siakago and Kirinyaga for voter's registration exercise," Sonko's statement read in part.
The flamboyant senator added: "I know KUJ is seeking relevance using this incident by dragging my name into it rather than fighting for the rights of journalists."
On its part, KUJ condemned the brutal attack on the three Mediamax journalists stating: "We wish to inform the politicians that any violence against journalists shall not be tolerated. KUJ will seek legal redress against such primitive acts and will launch campaigns for media blackouts against politicians using violence on the messengers as their campaign tools."
On Wednesday, Governor Kidero's motorcade was pelted with stones forcing police officers to fire in the air to disperse the rowdy youth.
The fracas erupted when the Governor refused to give money to a crowd that had gathered at Friends Secondary School.
Though the Governor escaped unharmed, the reporters accompanying Kidero to the event were injured after their vehicle and that of the police were heavily stoned.
The journalists were rushed to a hospital in Buruburu.
Kidero condemned the attack as “a primitive and undemocratic act that denies the media and Kenyans free speech. It is a wrong signal with Seven months to the election.”
He urged the police to investigate the matter, which he stated had been orchestrated by his rivals in the gubernatorial race.
