KISUMU, 17th August 2026 –In a chilling account, Michael Mute, a photographer with Standard Media Group, has recounted how he and other journalists were attacked, robbed and had their vehicles vandalized by armed goons while covering the Linda Mwananchi rally in Homa Bay County on Sunday, 16th August 2026.
The Kisumu Journalists Network, (KJN), has termed the incident a direct assault on press freedom.
Speaking in Kisumu on Monday, Mute gave a harrowing account of how a routine assignment turned into a fight for survival in Homa Bay Town and Oyugis.
“The day started like a normal day until we started getting roadblocks,” Mute narrated.
“As we got into Homa Bay town, that’s when it got worse. We were four of us in the car. Two of us jumped out and within a minute, everything had gone. Then machete-wielding goons came and tore at our doors.”
Mute said one attacker went straight for his colleague Bramwel Bwire of KTN, who was in the front passenger seat.
“He was ready to pounce on Bwire, but Bwire protected himself. They opened my door. The first thing he wanted to do was hit me with a double-sided machete. Luckily the back door cushion was loose, so I pulled it and blocked him.”
The crew sped off to Homa Bay Stadium where Francis, a K24 cameraman, was found bleeding profusely and had to be rushed to a nearby hospital.
“We had two double cabins. All of them were hit. The lights and everything. If not for our drivers, things would have been worse,” Mute added.
Other journalists targeted include Fred Ooko and Brian Ongoro of AFP, who were assaulted in Omabe Town ahead of the rally. The duo had their press cards, driving licenses, phone and camera stolen.
Kennedy Odiwuor of KBC/Mayenga FM was also attacked in Oyugis, while teams from Standard Media Group, Nation Media Group, Citizen TV and K24 were ambushed in Homa Bay Town.
MediaMax vehicles were razed as the crew sought refuge at a police station. They lost a camera and two live-view transmission units. The Standard Media Group vehicle had all its headlights and brake lights smashed.
KJN Chairman Rushdie Oudia condemned the attacks in the strongest terms, saying journalists were deliberately targeted.
“We condemn the barbaric and unacceptable attack on journalists. What started as a routine assignment quickly turned dangerous when committed media practitioners were confronted by goons,” Oudia said.
He expressed alarm over reports that political actors allegedly mobilized and paid youths to barricade roads with logs, trees and electric poles to block journalists from accessing the venue.
“Political leaders must take responsibility for the conduct of their supporters and desist from mobilizing young people to perpetrate violence against journalists,” he said.
KJN has demanded that Inspector General Douglas Kanja and the National Police Service urgently investigate, arrest and prosecute those behind the attacks. The network also wants stolen equipment recovered and for investigations to extend to those who organized, financed or incited the violence.
“A journalist who is attacked while informing the public is an attack on the public itself,” Oudia stated.
“Article 35 of the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to information. That cannot happen when journalists are attacked.”
The network reminded journalists of their cardinal rule: “no story is worth your life,” but insisted the media must be allowed to work without intimidation as the country heads to 2027.
