Homa Bay HR Officer Beatrice Akugo Interdicted Over Journalist Abduction and Torture

The Homa Bay County Government has taken swift action against one of its senior officials following shocking allegations of journalist intimidation, interdicting Human Resources Officer Beatrice Mercy Akugo pending investigations into her alleged role in the abduction and assault of People Daily journalist Habil Onyango.

The interdiction, announced on Monday, September 15, came just one day after Onyango was reportedly lured to a Homa Bay hotel where he was ambushed, assaulted, and forced to inhale bhang before being driven around and humiliated by his captors.

The attack has sent shockwaves through Kenya’s media fraternity, with press freedom advocates describing it as one of the most brazen attacks on journalism in recent times.

People Daily journalist Habil Onyango.

According to the Media Council of Kenya, the assault was directly linked to Onyango’s investigative work exposing fraudulent employment schemes targeting Homa Bay residents.

His exposé, published on a local newspaper over the weekend, had revealed how county residents were being conned through fake job opportunities – a story that apparently touched raw nerves within the county administration.

Abduction and torture 

The journalist’s ordeal began when he was contacted and asked to meet at a Homa Bay hotel under false pretenses.

Once there, he was ambushed by thugs who subjected him to a horrifying sequence of abuse.

Beyond the physical assault that left him with facial injuries and soft tissue damage, his attackers confiscated his electronic devices, deleted crucial data, and even posted a fabricated apology online in his name to discredit his investigative work.

Onyango managed to escape when he spotted an opportunity to jump onto a passing motorcycle taxi, subsequently seeking medical attention at Homa Bay County Hospital where a doctor confirmed his injuries.

Despite being offered medication, the journalist declined treatment and reported the matter to Homa Bay Police Station, where it was recorded under occurrence book number 25/14/25.

Homa Bay County Headquarters.

In its response, the Homa Bay County Government expressed unequivocal condemnation of the alleged actions.

Chief Officer of Public Communication and Government Spokesperson Atieno Otieno emphasized that the county administration has zero tolerance for such behavior, particularly when it targets members of the press.

“Journalism is a cornerstone of our democracy, and the safety of journalists is non-negotiable,” Otieno stated, adding that any officer found to have misused their position would face the full force of the law alongside stringent internal disciplinary measures.

The interdiction of Akugo represents what the county government described as “a standard procedural measure to allow for a thorough, impartial, and unimpeded investigation.”

This swift administrative action appears designed to demonstrate the county’s commitment to accountability while investigations by various law enforcement agencies proceed.

The Media Council of Kenya has characterized the incident as representing “a dangerous erosion of democratic norms” and has called for urgent investigations by multiple agencies including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The council emphasized that aggrieved parties should seek redress through proper legal channels rather than resorting to violence and intimidation.

The brazen nature of the attack – involving a senior county official allegedly orchestrating the assault of a journalist over his investigative work – has raised serious questions about press freedom and the safety of media practitioners in the country.

As investigations continue, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks journalists face when pursuing stories that expose wrongdoing in public institutions, and the critical importance of protecting press freedom as a fundamental pillar of democratic governance.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​