Eight journalists were on Wednesday ambushed and beaten while covering a press conference at the local KANU offices in Lodwar, Turkana County.
The eight who are attached to KBC, NTV, KTN, The Star, Radio Maisha, Citizen and Daily Nation were ambushed by unknown goons believed to be hired by a sect of KANU officials.
They were covering a local press conference at the offices when the goons ambushed and attacked them. Those who sustained injuries were treated at the local hospital and later discharged.
KANU officials in the region are disputing over leadership positions as the newly elected ones are faulting the outgoing team for failing to vacate office.
The outgoing members allegedly hired the goons to disrupt the journalists' meeting with the incoming team.
[caption caption="Journalist covering a demonstration"]
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The journalist also reported that several of their equipment was destroyed during the fracas.
"My fellow from The Standard was pushed, and the goons destroyed his equipment. His recorder was broken, and the batteries scattered, another one from the Star was also slapped," one of them stated.
"Some even profiled the journalists asking us what we came to do in Turkana and why are we interested in the region," Faith Sudi of KBC noted.
They called upon the authorities to assure them of safety while executing their duties as well as educate the locals on the roles of journalists.
[caption caption="Journalist covering a demonstration"][/caption]
Earlier this month, some journalists operating in the region were attacked during the coverage of a story in Lake Turkana.
