Royal Media Services journalists Kamau Mwangi and James Maina, along with Wahu Ngugi from Kameme TV, were caught up in the chaos when an unidentified group charged at them mid-coverage.
The three were physically attacked while covering the Saba Saba Day demonstrations in Nyeri on Monday, July 7.
Mwangi stated that he was in the midst of a live broadcast when chaos erupted, with a group of youth suddenly pelting them with stones. During the commotion, Kamau was struck on the back, though he escaped without serious injuries.
Maina, the cameraman, sustained neck injuries after being slapped forcefully and hit, while Wahu was shoved to the ground, suffering injuries to her knees. The attackers also smashed their camera, rendering it inoperable.
“At first, I thought it was a mistake, but when I saw the group charging toward us, I knew we were under attack. I was afraid not just for my safety, but for my crew. It was terrifying,” Maina stated.
“They thought we were filming them, which we were not; we were checking on the closure of businesses in Nyeri. The moment they saw the cameras is when they ran towards where we were standing and they attacked us.”
Kenyan CNN journalist Larry Madowo explained that his absence this time was due to threats issued by a politician, who allegedly paid individuals to interfere with and disrupt his work.
Organisations like the International Press Institute (IPI) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) have consistently raised alarms about violence against journalists in Kenya, calling on authorities to ensure their safety and allow them to work freely. These attacks, whether by state agents or other elements, contribute to self-censorship and deny the public their right to know.
– By Edwin Edgar Mutugi
