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Citizen TV journalist Ben Kirui narrowly escaped injury after a tear gas canister struck and damaged his helmet while covering nationwide protests in Nairobi.
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Kirui, reporting on the demonstrations marking the first anniversary of the Gen Z-led June 25, 2024 protests, said the canister appeared to be deliberately aimed at him.
“It was targeted directly at me,” Kirui told other reporters at the scene.
Fortunately, his protective helmet absorbed the blow, shielding him from injury. The helmet was visibly damaged where the canister had hit.
Kirui was among several journalists stationed across Nairobi to cover the protests, which drew large crowds demanding greater accountability and governance reforms.
The incident has reignited concerns over the safety of journalists, particularly during protests and politically charged events in Kenya.
It also brings back memories of a similar case in 2024, when Mediamax journalist Catherine Wanjeri Kariuki was shot while reporting on anti-government demonstrations in Nakuru on July 16.
Kariuki, clearly identifiable in a bright yellow “PRESS” vest, was shot three times in the leg while standing near a bank. Her colleagues rushed her to Valley Hospital for treatment.
Mediamax condemned the attack, describing it as a direct assault on press freedom and a calculated effort to intimidate journalists. The company called for a full investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable.
“Journalists must be allowed to work without fear for their safety,” Mediamax said in its statement.
The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) also condemned the attacks on both Kirui and Kariuki, urging immediate action to ensure journalists’ safety.
After Kariuki’s shooting, dozens of media workers held a peaceful demonstration in Nakuru, carrying placards with messages like “Journalism is not a crime” and “Don’t shoot the messenger.”
