GSU officers assault NTV Kenya cameraman in Voi

NTV cameraman was on Thursday assaulted by General Service Unit officers as he covered boda boda riots at Caltex area along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.

The officers confiscated Bill Otieno's camera's memory card despite identifying himself as a journalist.

MEMORY CARD

“The GSU officers forced me to board their vehicle which drove towards Nairobi but dropped me at Ndii area after confiscating my memory card,” he said.

He said the officers descended on him with kicks and blows demanding to know why he had taken photos of them during the riot.

He, however, said he had not sustained serious injuries but would report the incident to Voi Police Station.

“I thank God I am fine but will go to hospital in case I feel any pain,” he said.

INSECURITY

Voi police chief Joseph Chesire said he was unaware of the incident.

“I was busy on the other side trying to calm the situation. I request the journalist to report the matter to us for investigations to start,” he said.

The boda boda riders were protesting rising cases of insecurity in the area.

According to their chairperson, Mohammed Dudu, local security agents were doing little to investigate cases of murder of their colleagues.

FOUND DEAD

“Our motorcycles are being stolen and some of our colleagues tortured to death by unknown assailants. The police have done nothing to arrest these criminals,” he said.

The riders vowed to avenge the death of their colleague who was buried on Tuesday.

He was found dead at sisal area in Voi.

"We will not sit and watch our colleagues killed. We will take the law in our hands. We warn anyone who will try to steal our motorcycles that their days are numbered," Dudu said.

However, Mr Chesire said they were having a meeting with the rider’s officials to listen to their grievances.