Masked Gunmen Hold Journalists at Gunpoint During Kenya By-election Coverage

What the report says

Nile Post reported that several Kenyan journalists were attacked, threatened with guns and robbed of work equipment on Thursday while covering the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election in Nyandarua County. The incident took place at AC Primary School polling station, where witnesses said masked armed men arrived from a political convoy, used tear gas against crowds and then targeted journalists who were recording the disorder.

According to the report, journalists from Nation Media Group, NTV Kenya, The Star and other outlets were among those affected. NTV Kenya’s Brygettes Ngana, Fiona Akinyi and cameraman George Kiru, The Star photojournalist Enos Teche, and media personality DMK Media were named as victims. Kiru was reportedly beaten, subjected to a taser attack and had his camera taken, while Ngana and another female journalist were allegedly forced to hand over phones after guns were pointed at them. DMK Media was reported shot and injured, and other injured journalists received treatment nearby.

The by-election was held to fill the Ol Kalou parliamentary seat. Nile Post reported that Democracy for Citizens Party candidate Sammy Kamau Ngotho won with 35,440 votes, defeating United Democratic Alliance candidate Samuel Muchina Nyaga, who received 5,450 votes.

The Kenya Editors Guild and Nation Media Group condemned the violence, saying it undermined press freedom and the public’s right to information. Nation Media Group chairman Joe Muganda urged authorities to investigate and prosecute those responsible. The case is likely to intensify scrutiny of journalist safety in politically charged settings ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Election, especially given recurring concerns over intimidation of media workers during elections and public demonstrations.