Editors Guild condemns attack on journalists, demands thorough probe into Ol Kalou violence

The Kenya Editors Guild has condemned Thursday's attack on journalists covering the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election and called on Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to immediately institute thorough, independent and transparent investigations into the incident.

In a statement, Guild president Zubeidah Kananu described the assault as a direct attack on press freedom and democracy, saying journalists were targeted simply for documenting events at a polling station.

She urged authorities to ensure everyone involved is identified, arrested and prosecuted, regardless of rank or affiliation.

"The accounts emerging from the polling station are shocking and deeply disturbing," Kananu said.

"Freedom of the media is guaranteed under Article 34 of the Constitution. Journalists must be allowed to carry out their professional duties without intimidation, harassment or violence. An attack on journalists is an attack on the public's right to receive information and a direct assault on democracy itself."

The condemnation followed an afternoon incident in which masked men disrupted voting near AC Primary School polling station in Ol Kalou after arriving in sports utility vehicles and allegedly firing teargas canisters at members of the public.

According to witness accounts cited by the Guild, several journalists were assaulted and left with injuries while some were robbed of personal property.

They include the Star photographer Enos Teche, who was assaulted and allegedly robbed of his camera by the men who had covered their faces with balaclavas.

An NTV cameraman was also allegedly beaten, tasered and robbed of his camera, while another journalist had her mobile phone seized at gunpoint after a pistol was allegedly pressed against her stomach.

Teche stated that the men surrounded him as he photographed the unfolding chaos before grabbing his camera, assaulting him and injuring him on the leg with a teargas canister.

Kananu linked the incident to growing concerns over attacks on the media ahead of the 2027 General Election.

She noted that it came barely a day after the Kenya Media Sector Working Group (KMSWG) warned of a deteriorating environment for journalists.

The coalition had urged the IG and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) to expedite investigations into previous attacks on journalists, including the shooting of journalist Catherine Wanjeri during last year's protests.

"Barely a day later, the country has witnessed yet another brazen attack on journalists, this time during a by-election. The speed with which these warnings have been vindicated is both alarming and unacceptable," Kananu said.

The KEG boss called for zero tolerance for violence, intimidation and incitement against the media.

She warned that Kenya could not claim to be committed to free, fair and transparent elections while journalists were being attacked for documenting events in the public interest.

"Impunity against the media only emboldens those who seek to undermine democracy and erode public confidence in our institutions," she said.

The Guild also called on Ipoa to closely monitor investigations where police officers may be implicated to ensure justice is neither delayed nor denied.

Save for the isolated violence reported later in the afternoon, voting in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election proceeded largely peacefully across polling stations.

Polls closed at 5 pm as scheduled before counting and tallying of votes commenced under the supervision of election officials and party agents.