Activists call for probe after journalists assaulted in Homa Bay

Rights groups in Nyanza have condemned an attack by police officers on journalists who were covering chaos at the Homa Bay County Assembly on Tuesday.

Mr James Omoro, a correspondent with Standard Media Group, and Mr Ali Abich of Royal Media Services are the latest victims of attacks on reporters. They were clobbered by police who went to the assembly to restore calm.

PROBE

While Mr Abich was lucky to escape unhurt, Mr Omoro suffered injuries to his hands and shoulder and lost his camera worth about Sh70,000, which the officers confiscated and crashed.

Mr Omoro has since recorded a statement at Homa Bay Police Station, obtained a P3 form, and sought treatment at Makongeni Sub-county Hospital.

In Homa Bay, a civil rights group asked Inspector General of Police (IG) Joseph Boinnet to order investigations into frequent attacks on journalists at the assembly.

Homa Bay Bunge la Wenye Nchi said the attacks were an infringement of rights and freedoms of the media.

Group leader Walter Opiyo and coordinator Okano Nyasanga claimed the assembly management and junior police officers were involved.

“We associate the attacks with the fight over the position of majority leader. The assembly management do not want the rot in the house exposed. That is why they are attacking the media,” Mr Opiyo alleged.

Nyasanga asked IG Boinet to establish the motive of the attacks.

“We have established that the attacks are on particular journalists,” he said.

ARRESTS

The Kisumu Journalists’ Network (KJN) demanded the immediate arrest of officers who were involved.

"We call upon the Homa Bay police commander and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to institute immediate and quick investigations to identify the culprits and take stern action against them,” chairman Rushdie Oudia said.

“It is unacceptable and an act of impunity for known individuals to deliberately target and injure unarmed journalists doing their legitimate duty to inform the public."

The journalists demanded that Mr Boinnet tell them the person under whose orders the officers acted and ensure punishment.

They asked the government and all agencies to uphold constitutional provisions including press freedom as guaranteed in Article 34.

In its message condemning the attack, Media Council of Kenya asked Mr Boinnet, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and the police spokesperson to investigate the assault and the confiscation of Mr Omoro's camera.

PAST CASES

The attack was the third on journalists covering Homa Bay assembly proceedings.

The last incident took place in January as they covered a special sitting of the house.

In previous cases, police officers said they were instructed to block the press from accessing the assembly.

A Member of County Assembly (MCA) accused journalists of bias in covering assembly proceedings and was also heard saying the assembly management could only allow one journalist from a vernacular radio station to cover the events.

Kanyadoto MCA Walter Muok and Kwabwai's Richard Ogindo are fighting over the majority leader post.

Homa Bay Police Commander Marius Tum said investigations will be carried out and action taken against the police officers.