Kisumu journalists condemn police, rioters for attacks during demos

By Peter Ochieng

Journalists in Kisumu are alarmed by a spate of attacks targeting them, during protests called by Azimio leader Raila Odinga.

The attacks are perpetrated by rioters and police officers.

On Wednesday, Standard Group photo journalist Collins Oduor was brutally attacked and injured by police officers in Kisumu.

On Friday last week, freelance journalist James Keyi lost his camera to goons, months after citizen TV camera man Dismas Nabiswa suffered life threatening injuries, following an encounter with violent protesters.

Radio Matumaini's Faith Walucho lost her phone during the first round of Azimio demos, early this year.

Rushdie Oudia, Kisumu Journalists Association (KJN) chairman in a statement on Wednesday said the uncouth attacks must now stop.

"These senseless and uncouth attacks targeting the media must now stop. We demand to be allowed to execute our work without such attacks."

"We call upon the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome and the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to move with speed and contain their officers," he said.

He said demo organisers must reign in on their supporters.

"In the same breath, we demand the organizers of the protests to reign in their supporters and advise them against targeting journalists as we do our work."

If nothing changes going foward, Oudia who writes for the Daily Nation said journalists may consider keeping off demos as a safety measure.

"As a network, we are looking at the situation very keenly and will weigh our next options including keeping off maandamano or seeking legal redress and compensation against the police."