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Police assault 'Nation' journalist during Ng'eno homecoming
What you need to know:
- NTV videographer Winnie Chepkemoi, who was covering the events, said one of the officers slapped her and injured her left arm, demanding to know why she was recording footage.
- Ms Chepkemoi’s colleague intervened whereas the MP’s supporters reprimanded the policeman. A senior officer threatened to have journalists at the scene locked up.
A police officer assaulted a Nation Media Group journalist during Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno’s dramatic return home from the police cells on Friday.
The MP was arrested on September 7 after issuing remarks about President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Mau Forest at a public gathering.
He denied charges of hate speech and offensive conduct when he was arraigned the following day and was on Thursday granted release on a Sh2 million bond with a surety or a Sh1 million cash bail.
On Friday, anti-riot police officers in four Toyota Land Cruisers accompanied the lawmaker back to his constituency, surrounded by his supporters.
What happened
NTV videographer Winnie Chepkemoi, who was covering the events, said one of the officers slapped her and injured her left arm, demanding to know why she was recording footage.
Unknown to the officer, the assault at Chebaraa trading centre was live.
He attacked Ms Chepkemoi with a plank as she shielded herself, demanding to know why she was being harassed.
"You can do what you want. It does not matter if you are a journalist. You should not take pictures here," said the officer.
An affront
Ms Chepkemoi’s colleague intervened whereas the MP’s supporters reprimanded the policeman. A senior officer threatened to have journalists at the scene locked up.
Mr Ng’eno condemned the incident, terming it an affront to press freedom.
He also criticised the police officers for “harassing innocent and harmless people in a peaceful procession”.
"You are here to keep the peace, not to harass the people. We are not in a political rally. I am merely going home (to Mogindo),” he told them.
The officers later cleared the road and allowed the residents to walk with the MP, who had spent three nights at the Nakuru Central Police Station cells.
