Journalists ‘beaten by GSU men’
GSU officers at the scene of a terrorist attack in the past. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- He said the armed GSU officers beat them with rungus, kicks and blows before destroying their video cameras.
- Coast Regional Police Commander Robert Kitur told the Sunday Nation that he is not aware of the incident.
Two journalists were on Saturday allegedly beaten by General Service Unit (GSU) officers for interviewing local residents in Tana River County who had claimed to have been attacked by the same officers.
The GSU personnel reportedly beat Nation journalist Nehemiah Okwemba and Citizen TV’s Rueben Ogachi in Bombi in the outskirts of the Agricultural Development Cooperation’s (ADC) Kulalu Galana Ranch.
Also said to be injured in the incident were Tana River Governor Hussein Dado’s political advisor Abaroba Barisa, Ali Wario, who is a communications official, and a driver, who suffered multiple head injuries.
Mr Okwemba stated they were attacked after interviewing locals who complained that GSU officers drove away 200 of their cattle for allegedly trespassing into the expansive Galana ranch on Friday.
According to him, the security personnel started attacking them when they were about to interview ADC officials about the issue.
“We had gone to interview the management to get their side of the story because the herders had told us the GSU who were manning the farm had taken away their animals,” Mr Okwemba said.
He said the armed GSU officers beat them with rungus, kicks and blows before destroying their video cameras.
Coast Regional Police Commander Robert Kitur told the Sunday Nation that he is not aware of the incident.
