Targeted for Truth: Mediamax Journalist Recounts Harrowing Ordeal in Nakuru Protests.

Mediamax journalist Catherine Wanjeri Kariuki has alleged that she was deliberately targeted by police officers during the anti-government protests in Nakuru on Tuesday, July 16. Wanjeri was shot three times while covering the protests, an incident that has sparked outrage and calls for accountability.

Mediamax journalist Catherine Wanjeri Kariuki is currently hospitalized after being shot.

Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, July 18, Wanjeri recounted the events that led to her hospitalization. She revealed that she had been hit by a teargas canister earlier in the day before the shooting occurred.

"I am convinced I was targeted because this wasn’t the first time I had been targeted. In an earlier protest, I was hit with a teargas canister, but I didn’t report or escalate the incident," she remarked.

Wanjeri showed her colleagues the scar from the teargas canister, which was on the same leg where she was later shot.

Wanjeri described her routine that fateful day, leaving home around 1:30 pm to cover the protests, with no expectation of the violence that would ensue.

"Little did I know I would end up in a hospital with stitches in my thigh," she reflected.

The journalist endured three rubber bullets lodged in her thigh, which have since been removed. Doctors have confirmed that she is out of immediate danger, but the timeline for her full recovery remains uncertain. She is also unsure about the extent of the scarring.

In a touching moment, Wanjeri recounted a phone call from her mother just seven minutes before the shooting, urging her to stay safe. Adding to the tragedy, a video circulating on social media showed Wanjeri assisting a female police officer in a police van shortly before she was shot. She provided the officer with toothpaste to alleviate teargas pain, showcasing her compassion even amidst chaos.

Currently recuperating at Annex Hospital in Nakuru, Wanjeri remains hopeful that justice will be served. Her ordeal has amplified concerns over the treatment of journalists in volatile situations and the urgent need for measures to protect them.

As the investigation unfolds, Wanjeri's story serves as a stark reminder of the risks journalists face in pursuit of truth and the need for accountability in ensuring their safety.