Mombasa journalists attacked by machete-wielding gang; robbed of their equipment

Journalists covering the Mombasa Gubernatorial Election were on Monday morning reportedly attacked by a machete-wielding gang.

The journalists from a Coast-based media house, Alshifaa TV,  were robbed of their camera (make NX 100) that was fully loaded with battery and an SD card.

Cameraperson Vincent John and reporters Kaka Issa and Bebi Shimawia had just covered the elections at Tononoka area, Mvita Constituency, and were on their way to Changamwe Constituency at around 10 am when the attack happened.

Just when they had approached Jela Baridi area near Makupa Police Station, the said gang cornered them by blocking their motorcycle. It is from this point that they fell off their motorcycle and the gang robbed them of their equipment at machete-point.

"Tulikuwa sehemu za Tononoka kuangazia shughuli za wakazi kupiga kura za ugavana. Sasa tulikuwa tumemaliza Tononoka na tukawa twaelekea Changamwe tuendeleze shughuli zetu kule. Sasa katika ile harakati tukaona vijana wawili kwenye pikipiki lakini hatukujishughulisha nao. Lakini wakaja hadi wakagonga pikipiki yetu. Tuliposimama na kuanza kuwauliza kuna shida gani, walitoa visu vyao na kuanza kututishia wakatunyang'anya vifaa vyetu vya kazi," Issa recounts the ordeal.

Calls for speedy probe

HAKI Africa - a pan-African human rights organization based in Mombasa - has called on the relevant authorities to fast-track investigations into the incident.

"Eneo la tukio hilo kuna CCTV cameras. Tunataka zile CCTV cameras ziweze kufuatiliwa ili wahuni hawa waweze kujulikana na watiwe mbaroni ili wachukuliwe hatua za kisheria na warudishe vifaa vya wanahabari hawa. Hatuwezi kusema kuwa kama nchi tunakuwa kidemokrasia ilhali wanahabari wanavamiwa na wahuni," Hussein Khalid, Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid decries.

The incident was reported at Makupa Police Station even as investigations continue.