By Albert Nyakundi Amenya
Veteran Award Winning Radio presenter Uncle Fred Obachi Machoka aka the Blackest Man In Black Africa has vehemently condemned yesterday’s attack on journalists at Wipper Headquarters by goons masquerading as NASA supporters.
Speaking from the famous Fred’s Ranch in Isinya where he shoots his popular TV Show Roga Roga, Machoka said it is not only inhuman, but also disrespectful to attack innocent journalists who were simply doing their job.
Machoka was referring to an incident where Francis Gachiri was roughed up, beaten up and nearly squeezed balls for his open partisanry when reporting.
Machoka also lauded the NASA leadership for condemning the act. He nevertheless warned some quarters against rushing to condemn the attack of journalists from a certain region of the country but keep quiet when journalists from other parts of the country are attacked even by the police.
Here is what Mr. Machoka had to say…
“Anyone who believes in free media must condemn the roughing up of journalists Francis Gachuri and Jane Gatwiri by some goons at Wiper Headquarters today. I am glad that the NASA leaders present took time to recognise and condemn the unfortunate event. Their apologies to the affected individuals and relevant media houses as well as to all Kenyans (accepted or not) is something commendable” Said Machoka.
What’s not commendable though, is the selective quick fire reaction from certain quarters which found it meaningless when other journalists, specifically Duncan Khaemba, Rashid Ronald and Faith Matete, were molested by the security forces. It’s this kind of behaviour that makes other fellows think (and foolishly so), that it is OK to take the law into their own hands. Intimidation and harassment of ALL journalists is wrong…VERY WRONG” He added.
