A Kenyan journalist, Habil Onyango was abducted and brutally assaulted over an investigative report on a fraudulent employment scandal at Homa Bay, one of Kenya’s 47 counties.
The incident was disclosed by the Media Council of Kenya, which described the attack as a “grave threat to press freedom.”
“This heinous act, allegedly orchestrated by a Senior Human Resource Officer at Homa Bay County Government, targeted Mr. Onyango for his investigative reporting on a fraudulent employment scandal. This attack is not only an assault on an individual but a grave threat to press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the rule of law in Kenya,” the Council stated.
Onyango, a journalist with People Daily was allegedly abducted and assaulted by a senior Human Resource Officer at the local county government after he revealed how Homa Bay residents were being conned through fake job schemes.
According to the Media Council, Onyango was lured to a hotel in Homa Bay, ambushed, and beaten by the county official, sustaining facial injuries.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has also joined widespread condemnation of the attack its affiliate, describing it as “a threat to Onyango’s life and a deliberate assault on press freedom”.
“Journalists must be able to report freely on matters of public interest and no intimidation tactics against the press should be tolerated,” General Secretary Anthony Bellanger stated.
The Kenyan Media Council is demanding swift and transparent investigations, adding that “the perpetrators, known to
Mr Onyango, must face arrest and prosecution.”
Habil Onyango has reportedly escaped and reported the incident to the Homa Bay police.
In response, the Homa Bay County Government has announced the dismissal of the HR officer in the Department of Roads, Transport, and Public Works, following accusations of her role in the abduction and assault of Onyango.
