Editors Guild condemns journalist attacks during Gachagua’s return
By Aloys Michael, August 22, 2025The Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) has strongly condemned the violent attacks on journalists who were covering the return of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, calling the incident a dangerous escalation in the ongoing threats against press freedom in the country.
The assault, which involved robbery, physical violence, and destruction of journalistic equipment, took place on Thursday, August 21, 2025, along Mombasa Road as Gachagua’s convoy made its way from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
In a statement released Friday, August 22, 2025, KEG President Zubeidah Kananu condemned the attacks, pointing out that police officers were present but failed to intervene.
“This was not an accident. The growing frequency, brazenness, and coordination of these attacks point to a systematic effort to intimidate and silence the media,” the statement read.
Journalists from The Standard Group, TV47, and Citizen TV were specifically targeted, suffering injuries, losing valuable gear, including cameras and mobile phones, and having their vehicles vandalised by unidentified individuals.
The Editors Guild warned that these violent acts would not deter journalists from fulfilling their public duty.
Journalists will not be silenced. The truth will not be buried under fists, boots, guns or threats. The press will not retreat,” Kananu added.
Calling the incident a direct threat to democracy, KEG demanded swift action from the National Police Service and the Inspector General of Police. The Guild laid out three urgent measures:
Immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible, personal accountability from the Inspector General for failing to protect journalists and clear state guarantees to ensure journalists can operate without fear of violence, theft, or intimidation.
Kananu also criticised what she described as a pattern of government inaction in the face of rising hostility towards journalists.
“We will not allow Kenya to slide into a culture where press freedom is trampled and impunity thrives. If the state fails to act, it will stand fully exposed, not as a guardian of democracy and freedoms, but as an enabler of lawlessness and oppression,” she warned.
The Kenya Editors Guild is urging the police to honour their constitutional duty to protect journalists, reaffirming that a free and safe press is essential to any functioning democracy.