#KakuziImpunity: Social Media Abuzz Demanding Justice For Attacked Journalists.
James Mburu Gaita (NTV) and Julius Kariithi Munene (Inooro FM/Radio
Citizen) were attacked and severely injured while covering a students’/parents’
demonstration against an alleged encroachment of Gititu Secondary School land
by Kakuzi Company Ltd. Their cameras and recording equipment too were destroyed
in the melee.
Their crime?
The two scribes found themselves on the wrong side of the
guards after one of them noticed the se reporters taking a video shoot of the guards
beating up the students who were pulling down the barbed-wire fence that the
company authorities had erected within what was presumed to be school land.
As soon as word went round that the guards were on record
attacking the students, they immediately pounced on the scribes, hitting them
with jembe sticks indiscriminately and smashing their recorders probably to ‘kill
the evidence’ for good.
Luckily, another journalist was in a vintage point and
recorded the whole episode.
Trending
The campaign calling for justice for the two journalists has
been trending on Facebook, Twitter and in WhatsApp with Kenyans from all over
the republic as well as in the diaspora castigate this action. The 1 minute 20 second clip of the Friday’s incident, shared
on the Facebook Page Thika Town Today, shows how the journalist were brutally
attacked, with a section showing an unconscious student being evacuated from
the scene by her colleagues.
Comments of people demanding a proper probe into the attack
have flooded the Facebook and Twitter post, with so many of them sharing them
to their friends and groups demanding the government and the police to take
action on the guards and the management of Kakuzi Ltd. WhatsApp groups have been used as a platform
to highlight the impunity exhibited by the company for quite a long period of
time and seeking a thorough investigation into their conduct.
Hon
Francis Munyua Waititu (Juja MP) said, “Delmonte!!!! Delmonte!!! They are
going to see the mothers of all demonstrations in KENYA and an immediate
evection of this Kaburus if what is happening is true. Hon Stephen Ndicho join
me when we visit this premises and demand the right of our KENYANS. 99 YEARS HAS LAPSED and we shall never as Kenyans renew their leasehold. Hon
Alice, Hon Roho Safi hapa kuna shida kama kweli vile naona ni Kenya wakati wa ukoloni.
Kiambu governor, Muranga governor, All MPs, MCAs and all leaders in the two
counties should come together and rescue our workers who suffer under the watch
of one Francis Atwoli. Africans killing Africans due to hawa wabeberu
waliotunyanyaza wakati wa mababu wetu. I fell wasted if I watch stupid
underpaid watchmen clobbering their county men and women. ”
Another of the comments posted on the Facebook said,” Are
those human beings beating students???....like seriously???.. These are the
most stupidest people on earth. It is unfortunate that cases like these are
neglected.”
Kepha Mwebi asked, “In which police station cells are the
guards locked in awaiting to appear in court at 8am tomorrow to be charged and
jailed for assault?? Everything is on video and you can see their faces so what
evidence do the police want to start arrests??? Know what??? All you will get
is press statements from the police on what happened except and never what they
are doing to arrest and prosecute..... There is a name and a common
excuse.....investigations...”
John
Kuria said, “This is inhuman and should be condemned!!!!!..Who owns Kakuzi
?..”
Stev Kareru said, “that company had donated land to that school
so no need to new directors to grab.”
Miner Tourih Ale-Key said, "This
is impunity of the highest order despite beating a journalist who has
no part to play in a protest .... you beat up a man enough to be your
dad claiming that you are working.... working for a foreighner who pays
you 5000 for a full month with no overtime or allowance .... We kenyans
should Manner up and know what we call rights and what we call as neo
colonialism.... this foreighner has thousands of acres of land and
whatever he sees is the land where students farm their agricultural
projects for their final exams , this is disrespecting the kenya our
fore fathers shed blood for... if this continues we will be doing our
selves great harm by not defending what was shed blood for by our dear
grannies and fathers ...."
“Shame on them..You want to mean Kakuzi is a land grabbing company???” asked Samoei Mitey Gilbert Kipkirui.
“Shame on them..You want to mean Kakuzi is a land grabbing company???” asked Samoei Mitey Gilbert Kipkirui.
@ericounda said
on Twitter, “This is indeed a big
joke. I dare they touch a journalist. This is indiscipline of media action must
be taken with immediate effect.”
@Charagu said on WhatsApp, “Kakuzi, and the last vestiges of
colonialism. Utter disdain and disregard of the black men!”
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