Journalist Daniel Chege, a reporter for the Standard Media Group, was violently assaulted by members of the Kenya National Police’s General Service Unit (GSU) while covering a protest in Molo, Nakuru County. The demonstration was organized in response to the death of local activist Richard Otieno, whose body had been discovered under unclear circumstances.
Chege was reporting from a vehicle near the protest site when GSU officers approached and, despite his media credentials, dragged him out. According to eyewitnesses and his media colleagues, the officers tore his shirt and beat him with batons, injuring his arm. The journalist was later treated for bruises and trauma. Video footage and testimony confirmed that Chege was not interfering with police operations and posed no threat at the time of the attack.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from press freedom advocates. The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) denounced the attack as a blatant violation of press rights. KUJ Secretary-General Eric Oduor stated, “Journalists have a constitutional right to cover protests. Assaulting a reporter for doing his job is an attack on democracy itself.”
Anthony Bellanger, Secretary-General of IFJ, called for an immediate investigation and for the officers involved to be held accountable. “There is no justification for such violence. Journalists covering public interest events must be protected, not punished,” he said.
This attack is part of a broader trend of growing hostility toward journalists in Kenya. Earlier in 2025, at least four journalists were reportedly harassed or physically assaulted by security forces while covering demonstrations in Nairobi and other cities.
Media organizations and civil society groups are urging the Kenyan government to take urgent action to safeguard journalists’ rights. They’re also calling for the implementation of training programs for law enforcement to ensure they understand and respect press freedoms.
Unless accountability is enforced, activists warn, the assault on Daniel Chege could become yet another example of impunity eroding the safety and independence of Kenya’s media landscape.
