Police blame crowd for injuries sustained by journalists during Madaraka Day
The National Police Service (NPS) has, on June 2, 2025, issued a statement clarifying the circumstances that led to injuries sustained by journalists during the Madaraka Day celebrations at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County on June 1, 2025.
According to a statement signed by police Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga, journalists sustained injuries due to significant pushing and shoving by groups of people who attempted to force their way into the stadium.
Security officers stationed at the presidential entrance acted to prevent what was termed unlawful intrusion. NPS noted that it was during the crowd control exercise that the journalists sustained injuries.
“This compelled security officers to act appropriately to prevent unlawful intrusion,” the statement read.
NPS statement follows concerns raised by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) and several media houses regarding the incident. The MCK had earlier condemned the injuries inflicted on journalists and called for accountability.
No direct targeting of journalists
Further, NPS came out to dismiss assertions that police officers directly targeted journalists. Nyaga insisted that they were only caught in the chaos that ensued at the gate.
Several journalists were injured during the melee, but the situation was brought under control, and they were later allowed to enter the venue to carry out their duties.
“Unfortunately, some members of the press were caught in the ensuing melee, resulting in injuries to several journalists. The situation was brought under control, and journalists were subsequently able to enter the stadium.
“At no point were police officers targeting the media during this incident,” the spokesperson stated.
Despite the incident, NPS reiterated its commitment to maintaining a positive working relationship with the media, emphasising that police and journalists share a symbiotic relationship.
Call for caution
The statement also urged journalists to exercise caution during high-risk situations to avoid unnecessary harm.
“As a service, we remain committed to Serve and Protect,” the statement concluded.
The Madaraka Day celebrations, graced by dignitaries and attended by thousands of Kenyans, were largely peaceful apart from the brief commotion at the stadium’s entrance. The NPS promised to continue engaging with the media to ensure the safety of journalists and uphold the professionalism of security personnel in future events.
