OUTRAGEOUS! Journalists Attacked While Covering Saba Saba Protests
Monday was a sad and chilling day for Kenyan media, as journalists were once again targeted for violence while merely performing their jobs.
What began as regular coverage of the Saba Saba demonstrations in Nyeri rapidly became a horrifying encounter for three journalists who were accosted by people acting as protestors.
Kamau Mwangi and James Maina of Royal Media Services, as well as Wahu Ngugi of Kameme TV, got caught up in the commotion as an unidentified group charged at them in the middle of their reportage.
Although Kamau escaped with no serious injuries, he was struck in the back with stones.
@DCI_Kenya why would your people beat up a journalist/videographer in Kiserian and take away his equipment.
— A. Njoroge (@ukhozi_254) July 7, 2025
What are you people trying to hide??@NPSOfficial_KE @IPOA_KE @ipoa_chair @kipmurkomen @EAukot pic.twitter.com/HoTNgCTSIH
Maina, the videographer, was slapped on the neck, and Wahu was shoved to the ground, injuring her knees in the altercation.
“They thought we were filming them, which we were not; we were checking on the closure of businesses in Nyeri,” Maina narrated.
“The moment they saw the cameras, they ran towards where we were standing and they attacked us.”
To avoid the attackers, the three journalists scrambled into a police van parked just metres away.
They said that the assailants targeted them specifically.
“Immediately they came, they first grabbed the tripod stand, tripod ilikuwa na Kamau and then they went for the camera which was with James,” Ngugi recounted.
“And when they saw me standing hapo nyuma and then they came running to me. When Kamau saw they were now on my case, Kamau came and shielded me.”
Mwangi added: “And ile pilkapilka ya kujaribu kumuokoa, that is how they landed on me with stones and blows.
“Quite hurt kwa mgongo lakini si vile sana. It speaks to just how our environment ya kiufanya kazi is not as safe as we would want it.”
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The daring assault is one of the biggest attacks on journalists in Nyeri town, which was previously not associated with such antagonism toward the press.
Nyeri Press Club chair Seth Mwaniki condemns attack on journalists by rowdy crowd during Saba Saba demos in Nyeri Town
— The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) July 7, 2025
Video: Amos Kiarie pic.twitter.com/UaO1n8nIN4
“We are very worried because this is a new trend that is forming because journalists are directly targeted by people posing as peaceful protestors,” noted Seth Mwaniki, Chairman of the Nyeri Press Club.
Media professionals have often expressed alarm about the growing hatred toward journalists, particularly during politically tense occasions.
Monday’s incident adds to a mounting list of attacks that continue to undermine press freedom.
OUTRAGEOUS! Journalists Attacked While Covering Saba Saba Protests
