By S, KNA
A journalist with People Daily, Habil Onyango, was on Sunday abducted and assaulted in Homa Bay County, allegedly by individuals linked to a corruption scandal he had exposed.
Onyango, who had recently published a story on fake employment letters issued from county offices, said he was lured into a meeting under the pretext of collecting his camera from a friend.
Upon arrival at a certain restaurant, he was ushered to a woman identified as Beatrice Akugo, whom his earlier report had mentioned as being behind the scam.
According to Onyango, he was forced to write a news article clearing Akugo’s name. When he declined to do so within the 20 minutes demanded, two men beat him up, targeting his cheeks, the back of his head, and ribs.
“They carried me to a Toyota Harrier and shoved me in the boot before ferrying me to a place in Milimani,” Onyango recounted. “At the building, Akugo called a doctor to treat my wounds. Later, she even bought me lunch.”
Onyango managed to escape while his abductors were distracted, reporting the incident to police before seeking medical treatment.
He appealed to the government for protection, saying, “We are not criminals. Our job is to inform the public about the wrongs and rights of public officers.”
The attack has sparked widespread outrage among journalists and rights groups.
Senior journalist Philip Osewe condemned the assault, describing it as a blatant attempt to silence the media.
“We strongly condemn the attack on our colleague. The constitution is clear on the role of the media, and we will not be cowed by intimidation,” he said, urging police to arrest and prosecute the culprits.
Other journalists, including Erick Odek of Namlolwe FM, echoed the calls for justice. Odek asked the Media Council of Kenya to intervene and demanded that the perpetrators cover Onyango’s medical expenses.
“It’s by good luck that Habil survived. If Beatrice Akugo hired goons to attack a journalist, then she must face the law,” he said.
William Khayoko, CEO of the Journalists for Human Rights Network, described the attack as a violation of press freedom and noted this was not the first time Onyango had been targeted.
“These people are known and must face the law. If anyone feels aggrieved by media coverage, they should seek a right of reply, not resort to violence,” he said.
Journalists and rights groups are now calling on the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate the matter urgently.