A routine Sunday assignment to cover a political rally in Homa Bay turned into a terrifying ordeal for dozens of journalists who found themselves caught in the middle of violent clashes. What started as a chance to document the Linda Mwananchi rally quickly spiraled into chaos, with journalists fighting for their lives as angry crowds wielded stones, machetes, and crude weapons.
The team had spent the entire day moving between different rally venues, navigating tense political atmospheres along the route. But as evening approached near Koduogo Junction on the outskirts of Homa Bay Town, everything changed dramatically. The situation deteriorated so quickly that some journalists barely had time to react.
Nation photographer Alex Odhiambo received a distressing call from AFP journalist Fred Ooko, who had already been attacked by armed men in Homa Bay Town. With journalists scattered across multiple locations, the team found themselves in genuine danger.
Standard journalists Rodgers Otiso and Sammy Omingo stepped out of their vehicle to document the violence happening around them. Within moments, they were being pursued by attackers. Otiso ran towards a nearby farm while Omingo tried to capture everything on camera, but they quickly lost sight of each other in the chaos.
The desperation of those moments was captured in their own words. After finding each other again, the two journalists crossed a barbed-wire fence searching for shelter. They approached a homestead, desperately knocking and explaining they were members of the media needing safety.
The family inside, terrified by the violence erupting outside, locked their doors. It took pleading and persistence before another homestead owner finally allowed them inside. For nearly two hours, they remained hidden as attackers searched homes in the area. The fear was overwhelming, not knowing what would happen if they were discovered.
KTN journalist Bramwel Bwire described the scene at Koduogo as one of the most terrifying situations he has ever experienced in the field. A large group had blocked the road with enormous stones.
Vehicles were being attacked as occupants tried desperately to escape. "Death was glaring. It was traumatic. We thought we would not make it," Bwire recalled, his voice still carrying the weight of that moment.
The attack at around 6 PM as they approached Homa Bay Town was the most frightening encounter. Huge crowds surrounded them, armed with tear gas, rungu clubs, and pangas. The weapons came from all directions, hitting left, right, and center.
One attacker swung a panga at their vehicle, shattering the rear-view mirror near where Bwire was sitting. Another tried to wrench open the vehicle door before Bwire's colleague fought back. The driver accelerated frantically, maneuvering through the chaos as stones smashed against the vehicle.
Standard photographer Michael Mute experienced equally terrifying moments at Koduogo. He watched as attackers armed with stones, machetes, and pangas descended on vehicles.
Two men approached his car one tearing apart the window where Mute was seated while another forcibly opened the rear door. Mute instinctively tore off a loose section of the car door's cushion and used it as a makeshift shield against the machete-wielding attacker.
Not everyone escaped together. Some journalists had to take alternative routes. After the violence at Ndhiwa, where supporters chanted rival slogans before things turned ugly, the convoy was forced to regroup.
AFP journalist Fred Ooko, who had been traveling on a motorcycle, was later found at Olare, visibly traumatized, bruised, and dusty. His colleague Brian Ongoro was eventually traced to Homa Bay Police Station. Learning that the main road had been blocked, they took the Olare-Imbo route, but their journey was already marked by multiple confrontations.
At around 8:30 PM, help finally arrived. Their host informed them that an ambulance was nearby. It was their chance to escape. Rodgers Otiso and Sammy Omingo boarded the ambulance and were rushed to Homa Bay County Referral Hospital. But even there, safety felt distant.
The reality of the violence they had experienced became impossible to ignore. Over 20 injured people were receiving treatment, many with cuts and other wounds. Otiso himself had injuries to his knees and elbows, and had hurt his back during his desperate escape.
Other journalists continued facing danger in their vehicles. Nation reporter Dominic Ombok found himself in another vehicle where stones continuously battered the car. His colleague Alex shouted, "We are finished!" Their vehicle was at the very back of the convoy, with attackers just metres away and stalled vehicles blocking their path ahead. "There was nowhere to move. Nowhere to go," Ombok recalled with clear distress.
Then came the first loud bang as a stone struck their vehicle. Stone after stone hit them as their driver eventually found a rough road and diverted away from the main chaos, not even knowing where it would lead.
By the time the journalist teams regrouped and managed to leave the area, the full weight of what had happened began to sink in. What was supposed to be a day of reporting on political activities had turned into a fight for survival. Injuries, damaged vehicles, psychological trauma, and the terrifying memories of those chaotic moments would follow these journalists long after they left Homa Bay.
The incident raises serious questions about journalist safety during political events in Kenya. These professionals had been simply doing their jobs—documenting events and bringing news to the public. Instead, they faced organized violence that could have ended tragically.
As the industry reflects on what happened that Sunday in Homa Bay, one thing is clear: the price of journalism can sometimes be far higher than anyone expected.
0 Comments