Journalists, police assaulted in Nairobi’s Kettle House Shisha raid associated to UDA official
Four journalists, two police officers among others were assaulted during Friday, January 5, 2023 raid at the Kettle House Bar and Grill in Nairobi during a Shisha night raid by National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).
The entertainment joint located in Nairobi’s Lavington area is associated to an official of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
According to a police statement, Jane Kibira, a journalist from the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, who was among the four scribes was stabbed at the back, while Lawrence Tikolo from Citizen TV complained of pain from his left ribs and his camera damaged.
Boniface Bogita from Nationl Media was assaulted and lost his phone, while Bonface Okendo from Standard Newspaper was assaulted and his flash disc make 500xt2 damaged.
One NACADA officer and three police officers were also assaulted by bouncers of the said club.
Reports say Police officers managed to regain control of the situation and arrested the bouncers who had fled, changed their attire, and sought refuge in the bar’s toilets to avoid apprehension.
The authorities arrested a total of 21 individuals during the incident, and a knife believed to have been used in the stabbings was recovered.
They were taken to Kileleshwa Police Station and are waiting to be charged on tomorrow.
In 2017, Kenya became the fourth country in East Africa to prohibit shisha, after Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda after implementing a comprehensive ban on shisha, including the use, import, manufacture, sale, offer of sale, advertising, promotion, distribution and encouraging or facilitating its use.
NACADA Head of Reinforcement Nicholas Kosgei has regretted the incident and maintained that they will not be intimidated in their fight against alcohol and drug abuse.
NACADA and the Kenya Editors’ Guild has condemned the attack terming it as the height of impunity.
KEG President Zubeidah Kananu called for a thorough investigation to identify and bring the perpetrators to book.
“It is disheartening to witness such acts of violence against members of the press whose
duty is to inform the public. Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of our democracy, and any assault on journalists is an affront to the principles we hold dear.” Kananu said.
Kananu said such incidents not only endanger the lives of journalists but also undermine the fundamental values of a free and open society.
KEG pledged to stand in solidarity with the affected journalists and officers, and extend their support to ensure that they receive requisite assistance.
Also, Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale condemned the attack terming the heinous act as illegal, primitive and immoral.
“The Public Health (Control of Shisha Smoking) Rules, 2017 prohibit the import, manufacture, sale, use, advertising and promoting, and distribution of shisha. Regardless of your status and political affiliation owners of Shisha dens must face the law. Attacking Journalist and Law enforcement officers is illegal, Primitive and immoral. We must protect the family from Drug abuse.” Duale said.
