Allan Obiero, a journalist linked to Royal Media Services (RMS), reported an episode he witnessed as CS Magoha was scrutinising desks at Kosawo Primary School in Kisumu County on Thursday, November 19.
According to a report from the Chairman of Kisumu Journalists Network Rushdie Oudia, the victims were Ondari Ogega a Nation Media Group (NMG) a photojournalist and his female colleague Viola Kosome from People Daily.
The accused bodyguard manhandled Vivian before he moved to commit what has since been labelled as a sexual assault against Ondari.
“I was just going about my duties when the uniformed bodyguard shoved me out of nowhere. It is not right because we were doing our duties and they had invited us, we did not gatecrash,” Kosome intimated to Kenyans.co.ke.
“Ondari first accidentally bumped into the officer as the CS was entering one of the classes but apologised as he struggled to take photos.
“In the next classroom, the bodyguard targeted the photojournalist and physically assaulted him below the belt after which he let out a shriek and a small confrontation ensued. The CS did not notice since it was a very big team,” the witness continued.
The same bodyguard whose face was recorded by some of the journalists is said to have harassed another reporter in Vihiga by inserting his fingers into his mouth.
“The incidents have not only instilled fear among the journalists but also amounts to sexual assault and suppression of the freedom of the press as enshrined in Articles 33 and 34 of the Kenyan Constitution.
“As journalists in this region, we take this incident with great concern, and shock, especially with the utter irresponsibility and daring face the officer, went on with his harassment in broad daylight and the presence of the CS,” the Chairman of Kisumu Journalists Network stated.
This incident follows a series of attacks by Kenyans that saw the Education CS stripped of powers in his docket, following an insult he made to an elderly official in Eldoret.
At the school, Magoha cautioned headteachers and principals against sending students home for school fees arrears. He stated that as schools reopen in January, parents will only be needed to clear fees for the new term.
However, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe stated that the government had the option to push the reopening beyond the expected date.
