- In a video doing rounds on X, the journalist is heard defending himself after the officer is heard threatening to slap him as he filmed outside Wanjigi's house.
- 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.
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
Image: SCREEN GRAB
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.
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.
"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.
"Nipige, si unipige (hit me) the journalist retorted back at the officer.
"Wacha kunishika, unanishika aje? Utanipiga kofi aje na kama nani?"
(Stop touching me, why are you touching me? In what capacity would you slap me)
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.
He told the offending officer he was ready to put his camera down to settle the matter man-to-man.
"Ako ready kunipiga wacha anipige. Boss nitakuvaa hata mimi. Nazima hii camera tushughulikiane hapa sahizi," he said.
(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)
The journalist continued lamenting as the intervening officers continued to caml him down saying their colleague won't harm him.
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.
"Pole, pole wacha iishe. Kukasirishana kwa kazi ni kawaida lakini wacha iishe. Umeambiwa uendelee kurecord, endelea," she said.
(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)
A heavy police presence since Thursday afternoon at Wanjigi's home in Nairobi's Muthaiga suburb has attracted media attention.
The team camped outside house for hours seeking to get into the compound before they finally broke in at night.
The officers searched the house while looking for Wanjigi and what they termed as more evidence. They did not find him by midnight.
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.
On Friday, the businessman obtained a court order stopping police from arresting him in relation to the alleged discovery of the items.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye directed Wanjigi to serve the IG, DCI and ODPP with the order by close of business on August 12.
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.
The media has in recent days been at the receiving end of police excessess with several journalists having been injured while covering protests.
The Media Council of Kenya condemned the attacks and asked the police to respect press freedom.
The Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) warned that the freedom of the press is under attack.
“These acts of violence are not only a direct attack on these journalists but an attack on the freedom of the press,” AMWIK executive director Queenter Mbori said during a press briefing in July.
She said journalists are vital in informing the public and holding power to account.
“Therefore, journalists should be allowed to do their jobs in peace and without fear of intimidation,” she stated.