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NMG journalists attacked by armed masked men in SUVs, staff tased and camera seized
Things took a violent turn at AC Primary polling station, Ol Kalou, after armed men wearing balaclavas attacked Nation Media Group journalists that were filming them as they arrived in Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and began teargassing local residents.
During the attack, NTV cameraman George Kieru was robbed of his camera, while reporter Fabiola Akinyi lost her mobile phone as the attackers held a pistol to her stomach.
"We were covering the by-election at AC Primary School polling station when the armed men wearing balaclavas attacked us. We had gone there to report on a standoff between residents and police officers. Suddenly, the hooded men, who were brandishing guns, arrived in high-end SUVs and started attacking us. I managed to escape and sought refuge in a nearby shop," NMG South Rift Regional Editor Brygettes Ngana said.
Mr Kieru sustained injuries to his hand and back during the attack. He was treated at JM Memorial Hospital and later discharged.
"I was confronted by six hooded men... They assaulted me and ordered me to delete everything I had recorded before beating me and leaving me with injuries to my hand and back," Mr Kieru said.
Before the attack, tension had been building at the polling station, as locals had denied entry to any vehicles attempting to enter the premises while voters cast their ballots. This included police vehicles — locals stopped a police car from entering AC Primary School, only allowing it in after inspecting its contents and confirming it posed no threat.
However, in the afternoon, as tension continued to rise, armed men suddenly arrived and began violently scattering the groups gathered outside the polling station.
Ms Akinyi said she was recording this commotion when the attackers turned on her.
"I was filming the standoff at AC Primary when one of the hooded men pointed a gun at my stomach and ordered me to surrender my phone. He grabbed it and sped off in a waiting Toyota Land Cruiser Prado TX," she said.
One of the vehicles that was carrying hooded gunmen who lobbed tear gas at a crowd that had denied them access to AC Primary School polling station. The men also assaulted journalists filming the scene before they made away with two cameras.
Attacks condemned
NMG Chairman Joe Muganda condemned the violent attack on Nation journalists.
“An attack on journalists is an assault on the public's right to know. I call upon the relevant authorities to move swiftly to investigate this incident, bring those responsible to justice and take the necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of journalists covering matters of public interest,” he said in a statement.
“Nation Media Group has, for more than six decades, remained steadfast in its commitment to responsible journalism, editorial independence and the highest professional standards. That commitment will not be diminished by acts of violence or intimidation,” he added.
Voting had been peaceful all day until the incident at AC Primary polling station, with thousands of Ol Kalou residents turning up to cast their ballots.
Voter turnout was high, especially at polling stations in urban areas.
DCP candidate Kamau Ngotho demands answers from a senior police officer after hooded gunmen attempted to storm AC Primary polling centre.
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