NAIROBI, Kenya – Kileleshwa Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) Robert Alai has condemned the violent incident at Kettle House Bar and Grill, which resulted in injuries to several journalists. The altercation occurred when police officers, accompanied by journalists and officials from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), arrived at the bar to arrest club managers and patrons for allegedly smoking shisha, a banned activity in Kenya.
Alai has called for an immediate investigation into the matter, expressing concern that the aggression displayed by the security personnel and bouncers towards the media practitioners is a direct assault on the freedom of the press and expression. Several journalists and police officers sustained injuries during the confrontation and were subsequently taken to hospitals for medical attention. Some journalists also had their equipment damaged in the scuffle.
The club’s bouncers aggressively confronted the journalists, physically assaulting them and confiscating their recording equipment. Among the injured individuals was Nation Media photographer Boniface Bogita, who sustained two stab wounds to the ribs but is reported to be in stable condition. Kenya Broadcasting Corporation journalist Jane Kibira was also stabbed in the back, while Standard Media Group photographer Boniface Okendo and videographer Francis Odee faced physical assault, leading to the confiscation and destruction of their cameras.
Kettle House Bar and Grill has faced previous complaints from neighbors regarding loud music, prompting action during the recent raid against shisha. Shisha was banned in Kenya in 2017, encompassing its use, import, manufacture, sale, promotion, and distribution. Offenders face fines starting at Ksh 50,000 or a minimum jail term of six months. An operation led by the NACADA Chief Executive Officer Antony Omerikwa and Head of Enforcement Nicholas Kosgei resulted in the arrest of several suspects and the recovery of shisha pots.
In light of the incident, Alai has called for a swift and transparent investigation of the matter by the police, led by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, and other relevant agencies to ensure that all those responsible for the heinous acts are brought to justice. The investigation is essential to prevent similar incidents from recurring and to uphold the freedom of the press and the right to expression.