Journalists, police officers injured during Shisha raid

By Peter Ochieng

Journalists were among 8 people injured after a fracas broke out during a Shisha night raid in Nairobi.

The Friday night raid was conducted by officers from the National Authority for Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) in the company of police officers at the Kettle House Bar and Grill in Nairobi.

Shisha smoking is prohibited in Kenya since 2017, with the operation being aimed at the establishment due to reports of permitting patrons to smoke shisha within the club.

The operation was led by NACADA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Antony Omerikwa and Head of Enforcement Nicholas Kosgei.

"It was reported by Mr. Omerikwa, CEO NACADA and Mr Kosgei (SP), head of enforcement NACADA that they were conducting a Shisha operation at Kettle House where the bouncers of the said club became violent and in the process members of the press covering the incident were attacked," reads a police report.

Bouncers at the club reportedly aggressively confronted the journalists, assaulting them and forcibly confiscating their recording equipment.

Boniface Bogita, a Nation Media Group (NMG) photographer was stabbed twice in the ribs, but is understood to be in stable condition.

Jane Kibira, a Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) journalist was also stabbed in the back, while Boniface Okendo and Francis Odee, both from the Standard Media Group, were physically assaulted, and their cameras destroyed.

Citizen TV's Lawrence Tikolo, a NACADA driver and police officers were also injured during the melee.

Police officers managed to regain control of the situation and arrested some of the bouncers.

The authorities arrested a total of 21 individuals during the incident, and a knife believed to have been used in the stabbings recovered.