Man Filmed Drawing Gun Towards Journalists At Gachagua's Party Launch
The chaos broke out after suspected hired thugs tried to force their way into the party headquarters, prompting security forces to fire tear gas to control the situation and scatter the crowd.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
Journalists reporting on the launch of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), established by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, were met with violent threats and physical assault from bodyguards linked to the party on Thursday, May 15.
The chaos broke out after suspected hired thugs tried to force their way into the party headquarters, prompting security forces to fire tear gas to control the situation and scatter the crowd.
The goons made a second attempt to force their way into the premises at Lavington, Nairobi, only to be met with fierce resistance from Gachagua's bodyguards and his supporters.
One of the journalists was filmed being dragged along the dirt by Gachagua's men, who alleged that the journalist was among the youths who tried to gatecrash the party launch.
The perpetrators even went ahead and blocked a cameraman, who was filming the proceedings, from airing footage that would have helped authorities track them down for further action. Meanwhile, the bodyguards rained blows on the journalists to silence them.
Amidst the chaos, one man was captured brandishing his gun towards journalists in the pandemonium, a grievous danger to members of the Fourth Estate if the gun had gone off.
Meanwhile, the journalists were confronted at gunpoint and forced to delete the footage. "Toa hizo vitu...haraka!" one could be heard saying as they continued descending on the journalists, who had their cameras and equipment seized in the melee.
Kass TV’s Brian Tuva suffered head and facial wounds while a cameraman from the Standard Group was seriously hurt. A freelance journalist also suffered injuries. Footage from the attack showed journalists being assaulted by the mob. The injured journalists sought medical treatment at various hospitals in Nairobi.
Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen seemed to place the blame on Gachagua's team, stating that "Preliminary investigations revealed that some of the supporters were expecting to be paid and as a result of fighting for those resources, there was a melee which led to a stampede and some of the journalists covering the event were injured."
"People in civilian clothing drew their guns and fired in the air. Investigations are ongoing to establish who they are and what they did. But what is of significance is that we ask all leaders, regardless of their political affiliation, to seek the services of NPS [National Police Service] when they are having public events to secure and protect the public," stated the CS.
Murkomen also argued that the NPS had not received any notification about the party launch. While he acknowledged that Gachagua had every right to unveil his political party, the CS maintained that the former Deputy President failed to follow proper protocol to ensure adequate security for the event held at the Lavington headquarters.
"Our National Police Service (NPS) is carrying out proper investigations to see what happened when those political leaders were launching their party. As I have enquired from NPS, there is no indication that they were notified of this meeting so that they can provide proper security," he stated.
In a subtle dig at the former Deputy President, the Interior Security chief advised political leaders to compensate their supporters in a more organised and responsible way, saying, "Even when they are paying their supporters, because it's allowed by law, they should do it in an organised manner."
On Thursday, shortly after Gachagua and other top officials of the DCP departed the venue, chaos erupted. Witnesses reported that unidentified individuals in plain clothes fired shots into the air, likely in an attempt to scatter the crowd. The scene quickly descended into panic, with people fleeing for safety as others were seen physically attacking attendees, including the journalists covering the event.
By the time of going to press, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), among other media bodies, had yet to issue statements on the matter of the assault of the journalists, amidst serious concerns about press freedom and the safety of media personnel during politically sensitive events.
This incident reflects a growing trend of violence against journalists in Kenya, especially during political gatherings, protests, and demonstrations.
Media professionals frequently encounter threats, physical violence, and intimidation from a range of sources, including law enforcement, political loyalists, and other aggressive groups. These attacks not only put journalists at risk but also jeopardise the public's access to information and weaken the media’s ability to hold those in power accountable.
Meanwhile, incidents involving Gachagua are increasingly being associated with disorder. This latest disruption comes just weeks after a similar episode during a church service in Mwiki, where suspected goons tried to breach the church premises, and Gachagua’s security team again resorted to firing in the air.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) later criticised Gachagua for failing to alert local authorities about his presence at the church.
Gachagua and his party are now preparing for a larger launch event scheduled for June 4, with interim deputy party leader Cleophas Malala calling on Kenyans to attend in large numbers.
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