By Reporter
A top Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) youth leader who is also reinforcement officer at the county and his colleague were the suspects behind the attack of journalist Habil Onyango on Sunday.
The ODM top youth leader name withheld, and another suspect are also employees of the county government department of enforcement.
The suspects were in company of the interdicted Beatrice Akugo, a human resource officer at the county who on Sunday kidnapped and assaulted Habil Onyango over an investigative story on fraudulent employment racket at the county.
Akugo was arrested last evening and was expected to be arraigned in Homa Bay court today.
Homa Bay reinforcement officers have been in the recent past been blamed for alleged spate of violence in Kasipul and Ndhiwa and were claimed to be allied the slain former area MP Charles Ongondo Were.
Leaders from Kasipul led by the vocal political activist Odoyo Owidi had blamed the county government for employing and using enforcement officers to terrorize the residents.
But the county government denied the claims and with the recent kidnap and assault of Onyango, the government is back on the spotlight.
Akugo was a interdicted by the county government over what they termed as serious gross allegations.
In a press statement by Chief officer of Public Communication and Governance Atieno Otieno said that Beatrice Mercy Akugo has been interdicted with immediate effect.
“The government took decisive action following serious allegations of misconduct against a county officer.
Effective immediately, the human resource officer in the department of Roads, Transport and Public works, has been interdicted from her duties.
This decision follows grave accusations that MS Akugo is facing allegations of involvement in the abduction, assault and intimidation of a journalist. The alleged details of the incident are abhorrent, and include the journalist being abducted, held against his will, physically assaulted, and threatened.
The interdiction is a standard procedural measure to allow for a thorough impartial, and unimpeded investigation into these allegations. The county government is fully cooperating with the national police service and other relevant investigative agencies to ensure a comprehensive probe is conducted,” she wrote.
Media council of Kenya (MCK) also condemned the attack and demanded legal action over assaults of journalist Habil Onyango.
“The Media council of Kenya is appalled by the brutal assault, abduction, and intimidation of journalist Habil Onyango in homa Bay on 14ths September 2025. This is heinous act, allegedly orchestrated by a senior human resource officer at homa bay county government, targeted Mr. Onyangos for his investigative reporting on a fraudulent employment scandal. This attack is not only attacking an individual but a grave threat to press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the rule of law in Kenya,” read the statement by MCK.
MCK also demanded swift, transparent investigation by directorate of criminal investigations, independent policing oversight authority and office of the directorate of public prosecution.
Kenya Union of Journalist (KUJ) also joined in condemning attack of the journalist and demanded immolate arrest of the suspect.
“Arrest County Government of Homa Bay employee who attacked a journalist.
We condemn the abduction and torture of Homa Bay-based journalist Habil Onyango by a human resource officer and her accomplices. Such heinous acts of violence against journalists shall not be tolerated. We demand immediate arrest of the officer and arraignment in court.
Mr. Onyango was abducted and tortured on Sunday by Beatrice Akugo and hired goons in Homa Bay town due to a story he wrote over the alleged employment scam in the county.
We further call for investigation into the alleged employment scam in the county, which is the subject of the attack to enable the victims get justice.
The unchecked impunity among county officials who are afraid of scrutiny of their actions and corruption must come to an end,” wrote secretary general Mr. Erick Oduor.
Akugo, told Western Insight that she lured Onyango, through a friend to a hotel in the town, where she assaulted him.
“I slapped him severally and I can tell you he had a swollen face. I called one of the doctors based at Homa Bay hospital who came and viewed him where we were. The doctor, said he sustained soft tissues injuries, and he left and brough him medication, but Habil declined to take,” she said.
Habil reported the incident with Homa bay police, and it was entered on OB number 25/14/25 as assault.
