By Michelle Ndaga
Journalist Habil Onyango of People Daily was abducted, assaulted, and humiliated in Homa Bay County after publishing an exposé on a suspected fraudulent job recruitment scam, sparking outrage among press freedom advocates.
According to police reports, Onyango was lured to a local hotel on September 14, where he was ambushed by a group of assailants allegedly linked to a senior county official.
He was beaten, forced to inhale bhang, and had his phones confiscated before his captors deleted data and posted a fake apology on his social media accounts.
After being driven around for several hours, Onyango managed to escape with the help of a boda boda rider and later reported the incident at Homa Bay Police Station under OB number 25/14/25.
Medical reports confirmed soft-tissue injuries to his head, jaw, and ribs. Despite declining further treatment, Onyango has vowed to continue with his investigative work.
The main suspect, Homa Bay County Senior Human Resource Officer Beatrice Mercy Akugo, has since been interdicted to allow investigations.
The Media Council of Kenya (MCK), the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have strongly condemned the attack, calling it a grave violation of press freedom and urging swift arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
Human rights groups have demanded a thorough probe by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to ensure accountability.
