Journalists at Fidel funeral lose equipment to burglars
Several journalists who covered Fidel Odinga’s burial in Bondo, Siaya County on Saturday were robbed of valuables worth millions of shillings.
The scribes drawn from Nation Media Group, Standard Group and a freelancer lost their cameras, laptops and other valuables valued at an estimated Sh4.5 million.
The robbery happened in three different hotels in the small town of Bondo on Friday night.
The journalists booked rooms in the hotels and left their equipment in their rooms before they left for supper, only to return and find their items gone.
Mr Moses Odhiambo of the Daily Nation lost his laptop while his colleague photojournalist Mr Tom Otieno lost his photography equipment valued at more than Sh1 million at the Lake Breeze Hotel.
Standard newspaper photojournalists Mr Collins Oduor and Mr Titus Munala also lost their cameras and lenses at the Green Court Hotel.
Mr Emmanuel Jambo, a renowned freelance photographer, lost his Canon IDS Mac III and Canon 5D Mac II cameras worth millions of shillings at West End Hotel.
WELL-COORDINATED
According to Mr Odhiambo, the thefts were almost simultaneous and well-coordinated.
He said he and his colleague went for supper at about 7pm and on returning found the door of their room as they had left it.
“Then I realised that my laptop was missing. Tom’s camera had also been stolen,” he said.
Mr Otieno said that the loss had set them back a great deal.
“Even as we come to terms with this loss we still take comfort in the fact that those responsible dint steal our creativity,” he said.
Oduor said after doing the 7pm live link for KTN they went out for a meal and returned to their rooms at 8pm to find their cameras gone.
“Other occupants complained of losing clothes, phones and other valuables,” he told the Daily Nation by phone. The thieves must have had a master key which they used to open and lock doors after completing their mission.”
The journalists recorded a statement at the Bondo Police station.