{"id":124737,"date":"2024-08-09T21:37:59","date_gmt":"2024-08-09T21:37:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/kenya\/all-news\/journalist-stands-up-to-police-officer-who-threatened-to-slap-him"},"modified":"2024-08-09T22:10:09","modified_gmt":"2024-08-09T22:10:09","slug":"journalist-stands-up-to-police-officer-who-threatened-to-slap-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/kenya\/all-news\/journalist-stands-up-to-police-officer-who-threatened-to-slap-him","title":{"rendered":"Journalist stands up to police officer who threatened to slap him"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Kenya. <\/strong><\/span>A journalist who was covering police presence outside the home of businessman Jimi Wanjigi in Muthaiga had a confrontation with one of the officers who attempted to stop him from filming. https:\/\/shorturl.at\/ornmy<\/p>\n

A journalist who was covering police presence outside the home of businessman Jimi Wanjigi in Muthaiga had a confrontation with one of the officers who attempted to stop him from filming.<\/p>\n

In a video doing rounds on X, the journalist is heard daring the officer who threatened to slap him for rolling his camera to go ahead and slap him.<\/p>\n

“Sasa wewe unaniongelesha aje, nitakupiga kofi nani (How are you talking to me, I will slap you),” the officer is heard telling the scribe as he approached him.<\/p>\n

“Nipige, si unipige (hit me) the journalist retorted back at the officer.<\/p>\n

“Wacha kunishika, unanishika aje? Utanipiga kofi aje na kama nani?”<\/p>\n

(Stop touching me, why are you touching me? In what capacity would you slap me)<\/p>\n

The scuffle attracted the attention of other officers who moved in to calm down the enraged journalist who would hear none of their pleas to calm down.<\/p>\n

He told the offending officer he was ready to put his camera down to settle the matter man-to-man.<\/p>\n

“Ako ready kunipiga wacha anipige. Boss nitakuvaa hata mimi. Nazima hii camera tushughulikiane hapa sahizi,” he said.<\/p>\n

(He’s ready to fight me, let him fight me. Boss, I will hit you too. I will switch off this camera and square it out with you right here right now)<\/p>\n

The journalist continued lamenting as the intervening officers continued to caml him down saying their colleague won’t harm him.<\/p>\n

One of the officers was heard apologising to the journalist assuring him that their colleague who threatened to assault him had been told to stop.<\/p>\n

“Pole, pole wacha iishe. Kukasirishana kwa kazi ni kawaida lakini wacha iishe. Umeambiwa uendelee kurecord, endelea,” she said.<\/p>\n

(Sorry, let it end there. It’s normal to differ while at work but let the matter rest. You have been told you can continue filming)<\/p>\n

A heavy police presence since Thursday afternoon at Wanjigi’s home in Nairobi’s Muthaiga suburb has attracted media attention.<\/p>\n

The team camped outside house for hours seeking to get into the compound before they finally broke in at night.<\/p>\n

The officers searched the house while looking for Wanjigi and what they termed as more evidence. They did not find him by midnight.<\/p>\n

Police on THursday said they found tear gas canisters in a vehicle that was parked outside his house. Wanjigi denied that he owns the car.<\/p>\n

On Friday, the businessman obtained a court order stopping police from arresting him in relation to the alleged discovery of the items.<\/p>\n

Justice Bahati Mwamuye directed Wanjigi to serve the IG, DCI and ODPP with the order by close of business on August 12.<\/p>\n

He directed the respondents to file their responses before August 14 and set August 16 for the mention of the case and setting of a hearing date.<\/p>\n

The media has in recent days been at the receiving end of police excessess with several journalists having been injured while covering protests.<\/p>\n

The Media Council of Kenya condemned the attacks and asked the police to respect press freedom.<\/p>\n

The Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) warned that the freedom of the press is under attack.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese acts of violence are not only a direct attack on these journalists but an attack on the freedom of the press,\u201d AMWIK executive director Queenter Mbori said during a press briefing in July.<\/p>\n

She said journalists are vital in informing the public and holding power to account.<\/p>\n

\u201cTherefore, journalists should be allowed to do their jobs in peace and without fear of intimidation,\u201d she stated.
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