People Daily journalist Habil Onyango (centre) addressing the press in Homa Bay //Photo courtesy
A Kenyan journalist attached to People Daily was on Sunday September 14, 2025 abducted by unknown assailants in Hom Bay county.
According to the country’s media regulatory authority, the attacks was planned by a senior human resource officer at the Homa Bay County Government, targeting Mr. Habil Onyango for his investigative reporting on fraudulent employment scandal.
“The attack was orchestrated by a senior human resource officer at the Homa Bay County Government, targeting Onyango for his investigative reporting on a fraudulent employment scandal.” Reads part of a report by the Media Council of Kenya.
The journalist is reported to have been lured to a hotel in Homa Bay, where he was ambushed by thugs, assaulted, and forced to inhale bhang.
“The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) is appalled by the brutal assault, abduction, and intimidation of journalist Habil Onyango in Homa Bay on 14 September 2025. This heinous act, allegedly orchestrated by a Senior Human Resource Officer at Homa Bay County Government, targeted Mr Onyango for his investigative reporting on a fraudulent employment scandal. This attack is not only an assault on an individual but a grave threat to press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the rule of law in Kenya,” MCK stated.
After the abduction, Onyango, according to MCK, was driven around and humiliated with his devices confiscated, data deleted, and a fake apology posted online in a bid to discredit him.
“Journalist Onyango (MCK011319) was lured to a Homa Bay hotel, ambushed by thugs, and allegedly assaulted by the county official, causing facial injuries. Forced to inhale bhang, he was abducted, driven around, and humiliated. His devices were confiscated, data deleted, and a fake apology posted online to discredit him. A doctor from Homa Bay County Hospital later confirmed soft tissue injuries, offering medication Mr Onyango declined. Seizing a moment of distraction, he escaped via a passing bodaboda motorcycle.”
Onyango in his rejoinder to People Daily, confirmed the incident, revealing that he is nursing serious injuries.
He said that he was seriously attacked, abducted, beaten up over an extortion story which appeared over the weekend. He is nursing serious injuries after the sad incident.
A doctor at Homa Bay County Referral Hospital confirmed he suffered soft tissue injuries, though Onyango declined medication. He later managed to escape when he jumped onto a passing boda boda motorcycle.
The matter, according to People Daily, has since been reported at Homa Bay Police Station under OB 25/14/25.
The media regulatory authority described the incident as a grave threat to press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the rule of law.
“Such thuggery in retaliation undermines truth and public accountability. Aggrieved parties should approach the Media Complaints Commission, not resort to violence,” the council stated.
Onyango’s exposé, published on a People Daily news blog,, had revealed how Homa Bay residents were being conned through fake job schemes. MCK said the attack was a dangerous sign of democratic erosion, where journalists are targeted for exposing the truth.
