Citizen TV journalist Francis Ode has recounted the fear he experienced after police officers arrested and assaulted him while covering demonstrations against the recent fuel price increases in Nairobi, saying he worried about what could happen to him while in custody.
Ode said the arrest took place as he covered protests in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), where activists had gathered to oppose the rising fuel prices announced by President William Ruto’s government. He was recording the events when police officers moved to arrest demonstrators, but he was also targeted despite identifying himself as a journalist.
His fear increased when he remembered the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody at the same station. Ode said the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death made him question his own safety after he was taken into custody.
“Nilikuwa na hofu sana kwa sababu nilikuwa katika eneo ambalo nilikuwa nimetoa taarifa za awali kuhusu kifo cha Albert Ojwang, aliyepoteza maisha yake akiwa ndani ya kituo hicho,” Ode recounted.
“Nikiwa pale, nilijiuliza maswali mengi kuhusu maisha yangu. Nilijiuliza iwapo jambo lolote lingetokea kwangu kama mwanahabari, je, ingekuwa ni script ile ile ambayo nimekuwa nikiripoti kuhusu watu wengine?”
Ode explained that he was standing among journalists and recording the demonstrations when he noticed activists beginning to run away. He said a police officer wearing a uniform then approached him and instructed other officers to arrest him.
“Baada ya dakika kama tano hivi, niliona wanaharakati wameanza kukimbia. Mimi nilikuwa upande wa wanahabari na nilikuwa narecord. Ghafla, nikaona askari mmoja aliyevalia sare rasmi ya polisi akija kwangu na kusema, ‘Shika huyu pia.’ Mimi nikamuuliza, ‘Kwa nini unishike mimi mwanahabari?’ Vijana wake waliokuwa wamevalia suti ambazo hazikuwa sare rasmi za polisi hawakujitambulisha wala kusema wao ni nani,” he said.
The journalist said he tried to defend himself and repeatedly questioned why he was being arrested. However, he claimed that the officers ignored his explanation and forced him into a police vehicle.
Ode was taken to Central Police Station alongside three other people, including two activists and another man. He said even the other detainees tried to explain to the officers that he was a journalist who had been covering the demonstrations, but their pleas were ignored.
“Tulipokuwa ndani ya Land Cruiser iliyokuwa inatupeleka, tulikuwa tumekamatwa watu wanne. Kulikuwa na wanaharakati wawili, chokora mmoja na mimi. Hata wale waliokuwa ndani ya gari walipojaribu kuwaambia polisi kwamba mimi ni mwanahabari na hawakupaswa kunikamata, hawakusikiliza na wakaendelea na safari,” he recounted.
Ode further alleged that he was physically assaulted while inside the vehicle, with officers squeezing him and tearing his clothes during the journey to the station.
He said the treatment left him distressed as he continued to question why he had been arrested while carrying out his professional duties.
“Tulipofika hapa, bado tulikuwa tunasumbuana ndani ya gari. Nilivurugwa sana, wakinifinya na kunirarulia nguo. Kama mnavyoona, hii si hali ambayo mtu aliyekamatwa angependa kujikuta ndani yake,” he said.
Upon arriving at the station, Ode said he was taken to a holding area near the cells, where his concerns about personal safety persisted. He also questioned the conduct of the officers who arrested him, saying they neither identified themselves nor explained the reason for taking him into custody.
“Tunazo picha za wale waliotukamata na pia picha za kile kilichokuwa kikiendelea ndani. Tunazo picha za wale waliokuwa wakizungumza nami, nikiwaambia kwamba wanapaswa kufanya kazi yao vizuri kwa kuniuliza kwanza na kujitambulisha kabla ya kunikamata,” he said.
The journalist thanked fellow journalists and other people who contacted him and visited the station to establish his whereabouts and check on his safety. He said their efforts helped draw attention to his detention.
Ode was eventually released after speaking to Patrick Gogo, the Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) at the station. However, he said he was not told what had been recorded about his arrest in the Occurrence Book (OB) and was simply instructed to leave.
“Mr. Gogo, ambaye ni OCPD wa kituo hiki, alizungumza nami na kuniachilia. Sijui wameandika nini kwenye OB, wala sikuambiwa chochote. Niliambiwa tu nitoke,” he said.
Royal Media Services (RMS) Editorial Director Linus Kaikai has since condemned the incident, accusing police officers of using excessive force against unarmed picketers and the journalist covering the demonstrations.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of journalists covering protests and the treatment of media professionals by police officers. Ode’s account has also drawn attention to the need for officers to identify themselves, explain the reasons for arrests and respect journalists carrying out their duty to inform the public.
