A group of journalists from several media houses were yesterday night attacked and injured during a raid by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).
The Friday night operation took place at Kettle House Bar and Grill in Kilimani, Nairobi.
The Standard has established the melee ensued when a multi-agency team comprising police officers and NACADA officers arrived at the popular entertainment joint to conduct a Shisha raid.
Upon seeing the team, club bouncers pounced on them, assaulting all and sundry and confiscating their equipment.
Standard Group photographer Boniface Okendo sustained injuries to the arms and legs and had his camera equipment seized.
"We were attacked last night during a NACADA raid in Kilimani. Other journalists I was with were injured including a Nation Media Group photographer who was admitted at Agha Khan hospital, and a KBC cameraperson who was stabbed in the back," he narrated.
Okendo is in hospital receiving treatment.
Another colleague, Jackson Kibet, a cameraman at the Standard Group managed to escape with few injuries but had his memory card confiscated.
"They took away my memory card. They ambushed us...we tried fighting back but we were subdued. The police officers did not help the situation much as they too were attacked," Kibet told us on phone.
The group of about 10 journalists from the Standard Group, Nation Media, Citizen TV, KBC, and TV47 arrived at the premises at around 11.00 pm hoping to cover the raid on drug substances.
They have however recorded statements at Muthangari Police Station, Nairobi.
"Police officers responded and were able to use necessary force and arrested 21 persons who are currently in custody awaiting to be charged with various offenses," a police report read.
This is the second such raid by NACADA within two weeks.
Kenya banned Shisha in 2017, including the use, import, manufacture, sale, advertising, promoting and distribution, and encouraging or facilitating its use.
