Editors demand prosecution after attack on journalists in Trans Nzoia
Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) president Zubeidah Kananu.
What you need to know:
- Media practitioners in Trans Nzoia have demanded action against the senator’s personal assistant over the incident.
- KEG president Zubeidah Kananu threatened to pursue private prosecution against those involved if police fail to act swiftly.
The Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) has asked Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to act on perennial attacks on journalists in the line of duty.
KEG has condemned the Friday attack on two journalists in Trans Nzoia, who were covering a Kenya Kwanza grassroots development consultative forum in Motosiet Ward, Cherangany Constituency.
The event was a continuation of ward-level development consultations sanctioned by President William Ruto ahead of his visit to the county.
At some point during the forum, K24 journalist George Njoroge was confronted by Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang’s aide, Joram Wataka, under 1unclear circumstances.
The incident is reported to have started with a verbal exchange between the two over an article published in the Standard, which Njoroge had shared on his WhatsApp status.
The scuffle escalated, forcing several journalists to intervene, including Gilbert Sitati (KTN), Emmanuel Tarus (Emoo FM), Sammy Meli (Taach FM), and Caren Waraba (Radio Citizen), before calm was restored.
Njoroge has since reported the matter, recorded as OB No. 21/20/03/2026, at Sibanga Police Station at 4:30pm on Friday and is awaiting investigations and further action.
Mr Sitati, who was attacked for recording the incident, is expected to record a statement on Monday at the same station.
Njoroge has received treatment at Wamalwa Kijana Referral Hospital for injuries to the chest, head, and ribs, and is processing his complaint under a P3 form.
Unprovoked attack
On Saturday, the Kenya Editors Guild asked the police boss to immediately launch an independent investigation into the incident, which has drawn national attention ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“We call upon the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to immediately launch thorough and transparent investigations into the attack, identify and prosecute those responsible, and ensure justice is served without delay. Accountability must not stop at the foot soldiers; those who sanctioned or enabled the attack must be held accountable,” said Ms Zubeidah Kananu, the President of the Guild.
Editors have asked leaders linked to the incident to cooperate with investigations and uphold respect for the role of the media in society.
“Political spaces must not become zones of lawlessness where the press is targeted with impunity,” the statement added.
Ms Kananu threatened to pursue private prosecution against those involved if police fail to act swiftly.
“We call on journalists, media houses, and members of the public to document and report cases of violence and attacks against the press,” she added in the statement.
A shaken Njoroge told the Nation on Friday that he is yet to come to terms with the attack, saying it was unprovoked and happened as he carried out his journalistic duties.
Media practitioners in Trans Nzoia have demanded action against the senator’s personal assistant over the incident.
The widely shared video of the attack has drawn the attention of journalists’ lobby groups, which are calling for firm police action.
Some witnesses described the incident as isolated and not indicative of a broader threat to journalists in the area.
“We strongly condemn the attack on K24 journalist George Njoroge by an aide to a politician while he was on duty covering a public function in Cherangany, Trans Nzoia. This act is a direct assault on press freedom and the safety of journalists who serve the public by informing them,” wrote Collins Shitiabayi, a prominent journalist and official of a media welfare group in Trans Nzoia.
“We urge the police to take swift and decisive action against those responsible. Failure to act will only embolden such behaviour, and as we approach the 2027 elections, it risks escalating attacks on journalists who are merely messengers of truth,” he added.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.
