Star journalist attacked in Lodwar hotel

A journalist working for The Star newspaper was Thursday, January 2, 2020 attacked by security guards in a Lodwar hotel.

The scribe was attacked while recording an incident where a minor almost drowned at the hotel’s swimming pool.

Security guards at Stegra Hotel descended on Hesbon Etyang who was recording the incident at the hotel and beat him up.

"The security guards attacked me and beat me up injuring my arms," said Etyang.

This is not the first time that journalists in Turkana County have been attacked.

Last year, three cases of such attacks were reported prompting the Media Council of Kenya to convene a meeting between the journalists and opinion leaders in the county.

MCK Programmes Manager Victor Bwire condemned the incident.

"This is unacceptable. We take great exception to the harassment of Etyang," Bwire said.

Local journalists on Friday held a meeting to chat the way forward in the wake of continued attacks on media personnel.

The county media association chairman Emmanuel Cheboit said the journalists would not seat back and watch any of their own being harassed.

"We are going to follow up with the relevant authorities to ensure anyone who threatens or attacks any journalist is dealt with in accordance with the law," said Emmanuel Cheboit, the Turkana County Media Association chairman.