The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has condemned the violent assault, abduction, and harassment of journalists George Njoroge (Mediamax Network Ltd) and Gilbert Sitati (KTN) in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County, as they were covering a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) meeting in Cherangany.
According to MCK in a statement released on Sunday, March 22, the attacks are a blatant violation of Kenya’s constitution and international norms protecting press freedom.
Per the media watchdog, which disclosed fresh details regarding the attack, the journalists were targeted after reporting on alleged corruption involving a local political figure, with attackers reportedly storming a police station where one journalist sought safety.
George Njoroge was reportedly assaulted after sharing a screenshot of a Standard Group news article on WhatsApp—a legal act. While at the police station, he was forcibly removed by an individual linked to a county leader and taken into Kitale Forest, where he faced death threats.
Media Max journalist George Njoroge and Standard Group’s Gilbert Sitati being attacked while covering a UDA meeting in Cherangany, Trans Nzoia, March 20, 2026. /VIRAL TEA KE
He was only rescued after public attention brought the incident to light. MCK described the police’s failure to protect him as a “grave institutional failure” and a “source of profound shame” for the National Police Service.
Sitati was assaulted for filming part of the attack. His footage, now widely circulated online, serves as crucial evidence. “Documenting matters of public interest is a fundamental journalistic duty, yet he was
punished for performing it,” the statement read in part.
When Njoroge later returned to give a statement, he was reportedly threatened again on police premises, with the alleged attacker declaring no action would follow—highlighting a worrying culture of impunity.
The Media Council called for urgent, impartial investigations into the attacks, urging that all perpetrators, including any complicit officers, be held accountable. “Attacks on journalists are attacks on democracy. Press freedom is non-negotiable,” MCK declared.
Previously, the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) also condemned the attack, urging Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to immediately launch transparent investigations, identify those behind the attacks, and ensure swift prosecution.
The group warned that failure to hold the perpetrators accountable could force them to take legal action, including pursuing private prosecutions.
KEG also called on political leaders and their supporters to respect journalists’ work and guarantee their safety at public events, cautioning against turning political gatherings into “lawless zones.”
The editors’ body further expressed solidarity with the assaulted journalists and others facing threats while on duty, appealing to witnesses and the public to provide information that could help bring the attackers to justice.
This incident added to a troubling trend of harassment, threats, and violence against journalists in Kenya, sparking renewed fears over the safety of media workers covering sensitive issues.
