Three Mediamax journalists were today injured in Dandora as goons stoned the convoy of Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero. Sarah Ndung’u, a People Daily reporter, photographer Charles Mathai and K24 cameraman Patrick Kimanthi were injured by youth believed to be supporters of Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko in Dandora.
Ms Ndung’u suffered a deep cut on her head and was treated at a Nairobi hospital and discharged. “The group threw stones that smashed our car’s windscreen and injured. They thought we were part of the Governors entourage,” she said.
The journalists sustained injuries when violence broke after a rival group of youths confronted Dr Kidero convoy. Mike Sonko has expressed interest in vying for the Nairobi Governor seat in the next election.
The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) condemned the attacks and warned politicians that any violence against journalists would not be tolerated. “The union will seek legal redress against such primitive acts and will launch campaigns for media blackouts against politicians using violence on the messengers as their campaign tools,” said KUJ Secretary General Erick Oduor.
The union further added that journalists’ safety must at all cost be guaranteed by the organisers of political rallies. “Journalists have no role in political rivalries between Dr Kidero and his opponents and, therefore, their safety must be guaranteed by the organisers of the political rallies,” Mr Oduor said.
Dr Kidero said in a statement that journalists should be protected from hooliganism. “They were stoned because i did not give money. Let it be known that I will never give handouts,” he said.
The Political Journalists Association of Kenya (PJAK) condemned violence amid campaigns for the August 8th general election.
Also See >> Kameme TV goes live in February
Chairman Isaac Ongiri, secretary Jerry Rawlings and treasurer Francis Gachuri said authorities including the IEBC must punish all politicians who engage in the vice. “We are concerned that there is a new affront on political journalists and that their lives are more at risk as we head to the election,” read the statement.
They said investigations should be carried out speedily and those guilty punished, and that politicians should seek peaceful solutions to their disputes. “Our clarion call is for the government, through the Media Council of Kenya, to come up with guidelines on how to protect journalists especially during political functions,” they said.
[crp]
Leave a comment