The Mt Kenya Times 
By James Kabotia
Three journalists were attacked and harassed on Monday during Saba Saba Day protests in Nyeri town by individuals posing as demonstrators.
Kamau Mwangi and James Maina of Royal Media Services (RMS), along with Kameme TV’s Wahu Ngugi, were assaulted while covering the demonstrations, in what is being condemned as an unprecedented act of hostility against members of the press in the region.
Kamau, who reports for Citizen TV and Inooro TV, was struck on the back with stones but did not sustain serious injuries.
Maina, a cameraman, was hit in the neck by one of the attackers, while Wahu suffered injuries to her knees after being pushed to the ground by the same group.
The trio was forced to flee the scene and sought refuge in a nearby anti-riot police truck that had been stationed just metres from the site of the attack.
Nyeri Press Club chairman Seth Mwaniki condemned the incident, saying it marked a disturbing shift in how journalists are treated in a region historically known for respecting press freedoms.
“This is not just an attack on individual journalists, but an attack on press freedom itself,” Mwaniki said.
“We have not witnessed this level of hostility before in Nyeri. It is deeply worrying,” he added.
Mwaniki added that the attackers appeared to be masquerading as peaceful demonstrators, raising concerns about deliberate attempts to intimidate the media under the cover of public protest.
He called on law enforcement agencies to conduct swift investigations and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
“We urge the police to take this matter seriously and to act with impartiality. Journalists must be protected as they go about their lawful duties, especially during such sensitive national events,” the chairman said.
The incident has drawn wider concern from media stakeholders and civil society groups, who say attacks on the press are becoming more frequent in Kenya.
Saba Saba Day, observed annually on July 7, commemorates the struggle for multi-party democracy in Kenya and has traditionally been marked by demonstrations and calls for greater civic freedoms.
This year’s protests were organized amid rising public dissatisfaction with governance and economic hardship.
While most of the day’s demonstrations in Nyeri were largely peaceful, the assault on the journalists has cast a dark shadow over the event.
Media advocates are now calling for increased protection for journalists covering protests and other high-tension events, warning that a failure to do so will only embolden those seeking to silence the press.
“Freedom of the media is a cornerstone of any democratic society,” Mwaniki said. “We must not allow such acts of violence to go unpunished,” said Mwaniki.
Business premises remained closed for the better part of the day as the irate group tried to break into them to loot properties.
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