Nakuru based journalist covering teachers strike beaten by police, locked up

A journalist working in Nakuru is nursing injuries after he was beaten by police officers attached to a private school.

Mr Evans Asiba, a Royal Media Services cameraman, had gone to the school to cover a story on the ongoing teachers’ strike when he was attacked.

He suffered injuries on the head and hands.

He was locked up at the Bondeni Police Station for more than two hours and his camera was confiscated at the police station, where he was also forced to record a statement.

Mr Asiba said he was at the school to film activities there and gather information on the teacher’s strike that has prompted the government to shut down private and public schools.

“The security guard on duty barred me from accessing the institution, claiming he was acting on instructions from the school headteacher and I only filmed the school signboard,” he said.

EXECUTING THEIR DUTY

It was at this point that the management of Lions Primary School instructed the officers to arrest Mr Asiba and take away his camera.

The school's headteacher, Mr Abraham Lubanga, said the police were executing their duty.

Mr Lubanga said the incident was not regrettable since the instructions issued to the security team regarding strangers was straightforward.

“He wanted to know if the school had obeyed the president’s directive, but I clearly told him it was a non-issue to us,” he said.

A boda boda operator who witnessed the incident said Mr Asiba was attacked at the school gate by police and private security guards.

“I saw the police officers and the watchmen drag him on the tarmac and kick him on the head,” said the motorcyclist, who sought for anonymity.

At the station, he was charged with assaulting police officers, resisting arrest and causing a disturbance at a school.

Rift Valley Provincial regional Police Co-ordinator Gideon Amala said he was aware about the arrest but refused to comment on it.