In Kitale, a distressing incident occurred involving a journalist named Richard Saka from Milele FM who was covering anti-government protests. Saka was arrested and mistreated by the police while attempting to capture videos of the protestors. The incident took place near Kitale ASK roundabout, where the police intercepted a group of protestors entering the town.
Despite clearly identifying himself as a journalist, Saka was accused by the officers of filming without their permission. A senior officer confronted him aggressively, demanding to know why he was obstructing their work and who had authorized him to record. Ignoring his professional credentials, they forcibly loaded him into a police vehicle.
Once inside the vehicle, the officers ordered Saka to delete all the pictures and videos he had taken. This unjust treatment of the journalist came to an end when his colleagues, George Njoroge, David Chibeu, and Peter Nyongesa, intervened and stood up for him. Thanks to their defense, Saka was eventually released.
The journalist’s fellow reporters expressed their strong disapproval of the police harassment. George Njoroge voiced their frustration, stating that they were simply performing their duty as journalists and had done nothing to offend the officers.
Meanwhile, the police were actively preventing opposition supporters from organizing demonstrations in Kitale. Large numbers of officers were deployed in areas such as Kipsongo and Tuwan estates to prevent any gatherings of people seeking to express their dissent.
This incident highlights the importance of press freedom and the need to ensure that journalists can carry out their work without fear of unjustified harassment or interference from the authorities. Such actions by the police not only undermine the principles of democracy but also hinder the public’s right to be informed about important events and issues affecting society.