Journalist injured in attack at hotel

Another journalist has been attacked in Kitale, bringing to three the number of newsmen assaulted in the region within one week.

George Mirigi was allegedly beaten by workers at a hotel in the town on Saturday night on claims of causing disturbance. He was afterwards dragged to a nearby police station.

Mr Mirigi of Mediamax was entering the hotel behind Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa when the hotel's bouncers ambushed him.

The two bouncers blocked the journalist from proceeding further without the knowledge of the MP, and dragged him into a room where they roughed him up.

“I was walking behind the MP when one male worker blocked my path immediately I stepped inside the hotel. He pulled me to a dark room where he attacked me using a wooden bar. He at one time strangled me but was restrained by his colleague," said Mirigi.

He said he was beaten for doing a story last year on the hotel serving contaminated food.

"After my attacker realised I was bleeding, he locked me up and left the room for about three hours. Four men later came and pulled me out.’’

Mirigi said he was frogmarched to Kitale Police Station where he was locked up.

The journalist was released on Sunday morning following intervention from his colleagues.

Mirigi who suffered injuries on the neck, chest and hands sought treatment before lodging a complaint with the police over the incident.

Kitale OCPD Jackson Mwenga said the matter would be probed and those involved in the assault would be prosecuted.

Mirigi’s attack comes barely a week after journalistsPeter Nyongesa (West FM Radio) and Edwin Namasaka (Citizen Radio) were attacked by police officers at Kolongolo where they had gone to cover a clash between the officers and residents.