Three journalists were injured in Dandora on Wednesday when rowdy youth stoned Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero’s convoy.
The governor was visiting Friends Secondary School to make a contribution for infrastructure development and intervene in a land dispute.
Dr Kidero was not injured in the fracas but a vehicle carrying Mediamax journalists and a police vehicle that had escorted the governor were pelted with stones.
Police were forced to shoot in the air to disperse the irate crowd.
The Mediamax journalists were identified as Sarah Ndungu (People Daily reporter), Patrick Kimanthi (K24 cameraman) and Charles Mathai (People Daily).
Ms Ndung’u suffered a deep cut in the head and was rushed to Nairobi Hospital for treatment.
According to reports, the youth believed to be supporters of Senator Mike Sonko stoned Kidero’s convoy after the Governor failed to give handouts.
“This should be condemned, journalists should be protected from hooliganism and they were stoned because I did not give money. Let it be known I will never give handouts,” said Dr Kidero.
The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), through their Secretary General, Erick Oduor, condemned the attack and warned politicians against using violence in their campaigns.
“We wish to inform the politicians that any violence against journalists shall not be tolerated. KUJ will seek legal redress against such primitive acts and will launch campaigns for media blackouts against politicians using violence on their messengers as their campaign tools,” said Oduor.
