Education CS George Magoha found himself at the center of another scandal when one of his bodyguards was involved in a scuffle with journalists.
Allan Obiero, a journalist attached to Royal Media Services (RMS), revealed an incident he witnessed as CS Magoha was inspecting desks at Kosawo Primary School in Kisumu County on Thursday, November 19.
According to a statement from the Chairman of Kisumu Journalists Network Rushdie Oudia, the victims were Ondari Ogega a Nation Media Group (NMG) photojournalist and his female counterpart Viola Kosome from People Daily.
The said bodyguard manhandled Vivian before he proceeded to commit what has since been described as a sexual assault against Ondari.
“I was just going about my duties when the uniformed bodyguard shoved me out of nowhere. It is not right because we were doing our duties and they had invited us, we did not gatecrash,” Kosome said
“Ondari first accidentally bumped into the officer as the CS was entering one of the classes but apologised as he struggled to take photos.
“In the next classroom, the bodyguard targeted the photojournalist and physically assaulted him below the belt and squeezed his genitals and threatened to do more outside the classroom. The CS did not notice since it was a very big team,” one of the witness stated.
The same officer whose face was captured by some of the journalists is said to have harassed another scribe in Vihiga by inserting his fingers into his mouth.
“The incidents have not only instilled fear among the journalists but also amounts to sexual assault and suppression of the freedom of the press as enshrined in Articles 33 and 34 of the Kenyan Constitution.
“As journalists in this region, we take this incident with great concern, and shock, especially with the utter irresponsibility and daring face the officer, went on with his harassment in broad daylight and in the presence of the CS,” the Chairman of Kisumu Journalists Network stated.
This incident comes just as the Education CS was stripped of powers in his docket, following an outburst in which he insulted an elderly government official.
At the school, Magoha warned headteachers and principals against sending students home over school fees arrears.
He clarified as schools open in January, parents will only be required to settle fees for the new term.
However, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe stated that the government had the discretion to push the reopening past the expected date.