Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria has weighed in on an incident where journalists were attacked during a function attended by ODM leader Raila Odinga.
According to reports, Moses Nyamori from The Standard and Luke Awich from The Star, were roughed up at Chungwa House by a security team acting on orders from ODM security official Bernard Kadundo who had ordered they be kicked out.
The security team roughed up the two journalists, tore their clothes and broke Awich's phone.
Intervention from a section of leaders escalated the incident, forcing one of the journalists to seek refuge in ODM Chairman John Mbadi's car.
The incident attracted uproar from leaders, members of the public, and media stakeholders, who condemned the act and urged that police investigate the matter.
Taking to social media on Thursday night, Moses Kuria condemned the incident, taking a swipe at Odinga in the process.
The lawmaker claims that he warned a friend of his who recently joined the Azimio La Umoja coalition of the same.
Kuria alleged that ODM party has goons who will attack anyone, even if it s Odinga's running mate.
"The attack on journalists by Azimio goons at Orange House further confirms something that I told a friend who was moving to Azimio. Even if you are Raila's running mate you can be roughed up by his barbaric goons right in front of him and he will do nothing. Later Makau Mutua will issue a statement promising to investigate.
"Can you imagine if he was President already?" Kuria posed.
ODM has since apologised for the incident and welcomed police to probe the matter and ensure justice is served.
Media stakeholders including the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) have condemned the incident and called on police to expedite investigations into the incident.
The council condemned the profiling of journalists by leaders and supporters of political parties as it goes against Articles 34 and 35 of the Constitution on freedom of media and access to information.
“The Media Council of Kenya calls on the ODM leadership led by its leader Raila Odinga who was hosting today’s event to disown such acts of violence against the media and commit to non-interference in the work of media workers in all its activities henceforth,” MCK CEO David Omwoyo said.
