‘Nation’ journalist injured in night attack by burglars

Nation journalist Copperfield Lagat (left) at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. From last Thursday’s Nation headline, “Hope fades for poor patients at Kenyatta”, it is clear that public health services have been failing countrywide. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Copperfield Lagat, a news correspondent based at the Eldoret Bureau, was hit with a blunt object on the head during the incident.
  • The attackers managed to get away with a television set, two mobile phones and a gas cylinder.
  • Mr Lagat was left unconscious after the attack.
  • When he regained consciousness, Mr Lagat sought help from a neighbour, who rushed him to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.

A Nation Media Group journalist was Friday night injured after he was attacked during a burglary at his home in Subaru, Uasin Gishu County.

Mr Copperfield Lagat, who is a news correspondent based at the Eldoret Bureau, was hit with a blunt object on the head during the incident.

According to Mr Lagat, three armed men accosted him as he was heading to the latrine which is adjacent to his house.

“I had finished watching television, so I decided to go to the toilet just outside my house before retiring to bed, but little did I know that there were people waiting for me outside,” said Lagat.

“The moment I opened the door, one of the thieves grabbed me by the neck, pulled me to the sofa and hit me on the head with a blunt metal rod while the rest went for my electronics,” added Lagat.

LEFT UNCONSCIOUS

The attackers managed to get away with a television set, two mobile phones and a gas cylinder, leaving behind the injured victim, who was unconscious.

When he regained consciousness, Mr Lagat sought help from a neighbour, who rushed him to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital for treatment.

“I regained consciousness later on and I went to my neighbour’s house for help. He called a taxi and immediately rushed me to the hospital, since I was bleeding profusely,” explained Mr Lagat.

Dr Florentius Koech, a neurosurgeon and spine expert, said that the journalist was out of danger and that he had not sustained major injuries.

“A preliminary examination shows that the patient is out of danger and I have recommended a CT scan to determine if he has internal bleeding,” said Dr Koech.

The matter was reported to the Naiberi Police Station and investigations have been launched into the incident.