Several journalists were injured on Saturday, June 1, during the Madaraka Day celebrations held at Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County, following a violent altercation with security officers at the stadium entrance.
The journalists, deployed to cover the national event, were assaulted by police officers as they attempted to gain access to the venue. Among those injured were Royal Media Services journalist Ephantus Maina and Nation Media Group’s Mable Achieng. Two other reporters from the Standard Media Group were also caught in the fracas and sustained injuries.
According to eyewitness accounts, the altercation occurred in the early morning hours as media personnel arrived to set up for coverage. Security officers at the gate allegedly turned violent, pushing and hitting journalists who were trying to enter, despite showing accreditation. The motive behind the aggressive behavior remains unclear.
Adding to the chaos, unknown individuals exploited the confusion to rob members of the press and other attendees. Reports indicate that phones, cameras, and other valuables were stolen from journalists during the melee. The situation quickly escalated, creating a hostile and unsafe environment for media professionals and other citizens alike.
Sources at the scene said violence had begun brewing earlier in the day when groups of youth, allegedly ferried in by local politicians to fill the stadium for optics, started targeting fellow attendees. Victims reported losing phones, wallets, and other personal items to the rowdy groups.
The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) has strongly condemned the attacks, demanding immediate investigations and accountability from the authorities involved. “Journalists must be protected as they perform their duty. Any assault on the media is an assault on press freedom,” read a KUJ statement.
As of Sunday morning, neither the Ministry of Interior nor the event organizers had issued a statement regarding the incident. Press freedom advocates and media houses across the country are calling for urgent action and safeguards to ensure such incidents are not repeated in future national events.
The unfortunate episode has raised serious concerns over the safety of journalists covering high-profile public functions in Kenya.
