By Dishon Amanya – Bungoma
Bungoma based journalists Emmanuel Kilong’i who reports for KBC radio is nursing wounds after being attacked by students of Sang’alo Institute of Science and Technology.
The students were protesting over alleged mismanagement of the school, demanding that the principal leaves the school immediately. As they made their way to town, they became rowdy, throwing stones at passersby and chanting vulgar songs against their principal Rosabele Chukwu alongside looting shops.
Speaking to journalists after the incidence, Kilong’i said he never expected to be roughed up since he was just recording the occurrences as part of his journalistic duty.
“They harrassed me and went away with my phone despite the fact that I had identified myself as a journalist,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Nelson Musungu from Kenya News Agency, KNA who also expressed his dissatisfaction with the conduct of the students.
“A journalist is just a messenger who should not be stoned, there is no ground for assaulting a person in line of duty,” he said.
Kilong’i has already recorded a statement at Bungoma Police station and has appealed to Media Council of Kenya, Editors Guild, Civil Society, Amnesty International and Kenya Correspondents association to step up and bring violence meted against journalists to an end.
