By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, July 16, 2026 - Kenya's leading media organisations have condemned the assault of journalists covering the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, warning that attacks on the press threaten both media freedom and the integrity of elections.
The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) and the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) separately called for swift investigations, the prosecution of those responsible and the return of confiscated media equipment.
MCK described the attacks as a direct assault on press freedom and the public's constitutional right to receive information.
"The Media Council of Kenya strongly condemns the assault on journalists and confiscation of media equipment by armed people during the Ol Kalou constituency by-election," the council said.
It warned that the incidents were not isolated but appeared intended to intimidate journalists from carrying out their constitutional duty.
"These continued attacks and impunity against journalists must come to an end, and the perpetrators must be held legally accountable."
According to MCK, Star photojournalist Enos Teche was assaulted while covering a confrontation outside Ol Kalou Comprehensive School after armed and masked men reportedly fired shots into the air and lobbed teargas before attacking him and confiscating his camera. He sustained a hand injury and later recorded a statement with detectives.
The council also said Nation Media Group journalist Brygettes Ngana and her cameraperson were assaulted and had their camera seized by individuals believed to be plain-clothes police officers.
MCK urged the police to identify those involved, return all confiscated equipment and cooperate fully with investigations.
"The Council remains firmly committed to the protection of journalists and the defence of press freedom."
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The Kenya Union of Journalists echoed the concerns, describing the attacks as an attack on democracy itself.
"This madness must stop, because an injury to a journalist or a media worker is an injury to our national spine," KUJ Secretary General Erick Oduor said.
The union alleged that the attacks were intended to prevent journalists from documenting events during the by-election.
"The violence that was unleashed against journalists... are signs that sponsors of anarchy have identified the media as the only institution that is recording and keeping records of bad behaviours in our politics."
KUJ vowed that journalists would not be intimidated into silence.
"We wish to state that journalists will not succumb to intimidation from the sponsors of anarchy," Oduor said.
The union also called on security agencies to provide better protection for journalists covering elections, warning that continued attacks on the media could undermine accountability and democratic governance as the country heads towards the 2027 General Election.