Four journalists were assaulted in Homa Bay Town while on duty, as they attempted to cover the closure of Sehhat Albadan Community Hospital. The journalists, identified as George Odiwuor of Nation Media Group, Basil Okoth of KBC TV, Zedekiah Anding’e of Mayienga Radio, and Lencer Akoth of Lakeside Radio, were attacked while they were on assignment at the hospital.
The incident occurred when the journalists arrived at the hospital to report on the closure after the facility was served with a closure notice by the Homa Bay Sub County Health Officer, Ben Otieno. The notice cited the hospital’s lack of an operating license as the primary reason for the closure. The closure notice was intended to inform patients and the public that the hospital’s operations were suspended until further notice.
According to Health Officer Ben Otieno, the management of Sehhat Albadan Community Hospital had been given ample time to rectify the issue of its unlicensed operations but failed to comply. As a result, the facility was ordered to cease all medical services. In an effort to ensure the public was informed, Otieno was at the hospital to post the closure notice when the journalists arrived to report on the story.
Unfortunately, their presence at the scene led to a confrontation, and the journalists were reportedly assaulted by unidentified individuals. This incident has raised concerns about the safety of journalists, especially when covering sensitive topics such as healthcare and government actions.
Local authorities have condemned the assault and promised to investigate the matter. The journalists were treated for minor injuries, and their media houses have demanded justice for the assault. This attack has sparked widespread outrage among the media community, with calls for the protection of journalists while they perform their duties.
The incident highlights the risks that journalists face in Kenya, where assaults on media personnel have been reported in recent years. This attack in Homa Bay serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ensuring journalists can report freely and safely.
