The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has arraigned Homa Bay County Human Resource Manager, Beatrice Mercy Akugo, on charges of assaulting a journalist.
Akugo appeared before the Homa Bay Law Court on September 16, 2025, where she was accused of assaulting People Daily reporter Habil Onyang’o Oloo on September 14 at Lake Front in Homa Bay Sub-County.
The prosecution told the court that the incident left the journalist with bodily harm. Akugo pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read before Chief Magistrate Jacinta Orwa.
She was granted release on a KSh 30,000 bond with a surety of the same amount, or alternatively, a cash bail of KSh 20,000.
The case is scheduled to be mentioned on September 30, 2025, for further directions.
The DPP reaffirmed its commitment to upholding press freedom and ensuring accountability in cases of violence against journalists, stressing that no individual is above the law.
By Were Kelly
