Journalists from various media houses are nursing injuries following an attack during a shisha raid at one entertainment joint in Nairobi.
According to police report OB 3/06/01/2024 filed at Kileleshwa Police Station, the journalists were covering a Saturday morning raid conducted by officers from National Agency for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA).
“It was reported by Mr. Omerikwa, CEO NACADA and Mr Kosgei(SP), head of enforcement NACADA that they were conducting a Shisha operation at Kettle house,” read part of the report.
Bouncers at the club turned on the journalists and officers leading to damage of equipment and the reporters sustaining injuries.
Jane Kibira from Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) was reportedly stabbed with a knife on her back.
Her counterpart from Citizen TV Lawrence Tikolo was assaulted and had his camera destroyed.
Other journalists who were caught up in the chaos reported loss of their mobile phones, hard disk devices as they were also assaulted.
Police officers who accompanied the NACADA team during the raid were also attacked.
“David Ousa NACADA driver assaulted. CPL Joseph Rutto NO 80077 assaulted. PC Joel Nyaga NO 87286 assaulted. PC Bonface Mutisya NO 99825 assaulted,” read part of the report.
They reportedly called for backup and police arrested 21 people who are in custody pending arraignment.
A similar operation was conducted in the same area on December 23 that led to arrest of 25 people.
Anthony Omerikwa, the CEO of NACADA led the operation alongside police officers in efforts to weed out illegal substance shisha sold in select nightclubs.
On that Friday night, 117 shisha substances were seized from Yejoka Garden Restaurant on Wood Avenue.
Omerikwa said the operation had just begun and would be extended to other parts of the country.
“This thing (shisha) has permeated our society so much. It is affecting our children. It is affecting the masses in the country and productivity,” he added.
