People Daily journalist Habil Onyango abducted, tortured over an investigative story
By Francis Muli, September 15, 2025People Daily journalist Habil Onyango has been abducted by unknown assailants in Homa Bay County.
According to a report by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), Onyango was abducted and assaulted on Sunday, September 14, 2025.
MCK states that 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.
Onyango was lured to a hotel in Homa Bay, where he was ambushed by thugs, assaulted, and forced to inhale bhang. MCK says after the abduction, he was driven around and humiliated. His devices were confiscated, data deleted, and a fake apology was posted online in a bid to discredit him.
“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.
“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.”
In a distress message sent to People Daily Digital, Onyango confirmed the incident, revealing that he is nursing serious injuries.
“I was seriously attacked, abducted, beaten up over an extortion story which appeared over the weekend… nursing serious injuries,” he told People Daily Digital.
A doctor at Homa Bay County 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 was reported at Homa Bay Police Station under OB 25/14/25.
MCK 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 local 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.
The council has demanded swift investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). It also urged the National Police Service to recover Onyango’s confiscated devices and guarantee his safety.