‘I feared for my life’: Citizen TV reporter Francis Ode recounts ordeal after arrest during protests

Citizen TV Journalist Ode Francis says he feared for his life after being arrested and assaulted while covering demonstrations against the recent fuel price increase in Nairobi.

Ode, who was released after being held at the station, said the experience left him worried about his safety as he questioned what might happen to him while in police custody, while citing the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang in custody at the same station.

“Nilikuwa na hofu sana kwa sababu nilikuwa katika eneo ambalo nilikuwa nimetoa taarifa za awali kuhusu kifo cha Albert Ojwang, aliyepoteza maisha yake akiwa ndani ya kituo hicho,” Ode recounted.

“Nikiwa pale, nilijiuliza maswali mengi kuhusu maisha yangu. Nilijiuliza iwapo jambo lolote lingetokea kwangu kama mwanahabari, je, ingekuwa ni script ile ile ambayo nimekuwa nikiripoti kuhusu watu wengine?”

He said he had been assigned to cover demonstrations organised by activists protesting the recent fuel price increases announced by the President William Ruto government.

Ode noted that he was recording the events in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) when police officers moved to arrest demonstrators, with an officer in uniform allegedly directing his colleagues to apprehend him as well.

“Baada ya dakika kama tano hivi, niliona wanaharakati wameanza kukimbia. Mimi nilikuwa upande wa wanahabari na nilikuwa narecord. Ghafla, nikaona askari mmoja aliyevalia sare rasmi ya polisi akija kwangu na kusema, ‘Shika huyu pia.’ Mimi nikamuuliza, ‘Kwa nini unishike mimi mwanahabari?’ Vijana wake waliokuwa wamevalia suti ambazo hazikuwa sare rasmi za polisi hawakujitambulisha wala kusema wao ni nani,” he said.

Ode said he began shouting and defending himself as the officers attempted to apprehend him, fearing for his safety.

He maintained that he repeatedly identified himself as a journalist but was ignored and bundled into a police vehicle alongside three other people.

“Tulipokuwa ndani ya Land Cruiser iliyokuwa inatupeleka, tulikuwa tumekamatwa watu wanne. Kulikuwa na wanaharakati wawili, chokora mmoja na mimi. Hata wale waliokuwa ndani ya gari walipojaribu kuwaambia polisi kwamba mimi ni mwanahabari na hawakupaswa kunikamata, hawakusikiliza na wakaendelea na safari,” he recounted.

The journalist further alleged that he was physically assaulted during the arrest, claiming that officers squeezed him and tore his clothes as they took him to Central Police Station.

“Tulipofika hapa, bado tulikuwa tunasumbuana ndani ya gari. Nilivurugwa sana, wakinifinya na kunirarulia nguo. Kama mnavyoona, hii si hali ambayo mtu aliyekamatwa angependa kujikuta ndani yake,” he said.

Upon arrival at the station, Ode said he was taken to a holding bay near the cells where he remained fearful, citing circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death.

He also questioned the manner in which the arrest was conducted, saying those who apprehended him did not identify themselves or explain why they were taking him into custody.

“Tunazo picha za wale waliotukamata na pia picha za kile kilichokuwa kikiendelea ndani. Tunazo picha za wale waliokuwa wakizungumza nami, nikiwaambia kwamba wanapaswa kufanya kazi yao vizuri kwa kuniuliza kwanza na kujitambulisha kabla ya kunikamata,” he said.

Ode expressed gratitude to fellow journalists and other people who contacted him and went to the station to establish his whereabouts and ensure his safety.

He said he was eventually released after speaking to Patrick Gogo, the Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) at the station, but was not informed of the details recorded in the Occurrence Book (OB).

“Mr. Gogo, ambaye ni OCPD wa kituo hiki, alizungumza nami na kuniachilia. Sijui wameandika nini kwenye OB, wala sikuambiwa chochote. Niliambiwa tu nitoke,” he said.  

Royal Media Services (RMS) Editorial Director Linus Kaikai has since condemned the incident, accusing the police of using excessive force against unarmed picketers as well as the journalist.