Outrage over stoning of Mediamax journalists in Dandora
There was outrage on Wednesday night after three Mediamax journalists were injured while covering Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero in Dandora
Mediamax, Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), Political Journalists Association of Kenya (PJAK) and the governor all condemned the attacks on journalists.
Journalists Sarah Ndung’u (People Daily), Charles Mathai (People Daily), Patrick Kimanthi (K24) and driver Edward Mungai working for Mediamax are nursing injuries after they were attcked by irate youths in Dandora.
Ms Ndung’u suffered a deep cut in the head and is currently being treated at a Nairobi hospital.
GANG
“We condemn this barbaric attack on media people by thugs who were apparently in a gang organised to execute a political attack on the governor,” said a joint statement from Maina Muiruri (People Daily Editor) and Fred Njiiri (K24 Editor).
“Police must move fast to arrest members of this gang who are said to be well known political mercenaries for hire operating with some politicians in the Eastlands, Nairobi.”
KUJ secretary general Erick Oduor said violence against journalists shall not be tolerated.
“KUJ 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,” he said.
PROTECTED
For its part, PJAK said reporters’ lives must be protected.
“We the members of Political Journalists Association of Kenya (PJAK) are dismayed by reports of the physical assault meted on three of Mediamaxx staff after covering a political event attended by Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero in Dandora,” read a statement from PJAK.
Dr Kidero said he was shocked by the incident.
CONDEMNED
“This should be condemned, journalists should be protected from hooliganism and they were stoned because I did not give money. Let it be known I will never give handouts,” said the governor.
Last year A K24 cameraman was seriously injured and his recording equipment destroyed after he was attacked by ODM youths in Budalang’i.
And in a separate incident another K24 cameraman was roughed up by a senior police officer and his camera smashed while covering protests in Eldoret town.
