Following very unfortunate events, journalists searching for justice ended up being assaulted by St Stephen Girls Secondary School students
KTN journalists Ms Caroline Bii, cameraman Boniface Magana and their driver Immaculate Joseph were pelted with stones by the irate students who had been allegedly incited by their principal.
The institution’s principal John Kyalo had allegedly declined to be interviewed on allegations of a missing student from the institution.
Mr Stephen Nzeve, the school’s director claimed that the institution had informed Ms Mary Mukami, the missing girl’s mother that her daughter was in South B Estate Nairobi.
He claimed that the girls reacted after the parent, who was accompanied by journalists, started harassing teachers.
“I was not in school but I am told the guy started harassing the teachers. The girls were bitter since they did not want their school to be in the news again,” said Mr Nzeve.
A a result of the incident, the principal of St. Stephen Girls School in Machakos, Mr. John Kyalo and the mother of the missing girl, Mary Mukami have been arrested by officers. They are facing charges of Incitement to violence among other offences.
Mr. John Kyalo, the Principal of St. Steven’s Girls School in #Machakos County & Ms. Mary Mukami, the mother of the missing girl have been arrested by officers following the attack on Journalists. The two suspects will be charged with Incitement to Violence among other offences. pic.twitter.com/WsXOYDLgzf
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) June 3, 2019
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula has condemned the beating of the journalists calling for the perpetrators to be bought to book. Wetangula stated that a threat to journalists is a threat to freedom.
The attack on Standard journalists while on duty in Machakos is an act of culpable criminality that must not only be condemned but the perpetrators brought to book. A threat to journalists is a threat to freedom .
— Sen.Moses Wetang’ula (@Wetangulam) June 3, 2019
Machakos governor Alfred Mutua also condemned the act.
“I condemn the acts of violence involving students and a media crew in Kyumvi. I have sent a team to the scene. I do not condone violence as an expression of anger or for any other reason. We need a country that practices peaceful ways of solving issues or expressing displeasure,” said the Mutua.