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An East African Standard journalist was among several people who were injured when rioting Kenya Polytechnic students attacked journalists, motorists and passers-by.
Chief photographer Hudson Wainaina was admitted to the Mater Hospital where he received six stitches on the head after he was hit with a rock while taking pictures of students fighting anti-riot police along Haile Sellasie Avenue.
During the riot, the polytechnic students ransacked Wanaina's pockets and robbed him of his mobile phone, cash and other valuables.
Speaking from his hospital bed, Wanaina said: "I lost consciousness momentarily when the rock hit me on the head."
An intern with the Nation Television, Hakubwa Owino, was also seriously injured when he was hit with a rock on the head during the riots.
Hakubwa was trying to get an interview from the Kenya Polytechnic principal when a student, who was standing on the roof of a building in the institution, hit him with a rock .
Agence France Presse (AFP) reporter Lilian Mariba was roughed up by the students who tried to steal her mobile phone before she was rescued by other journalists.
A freelance journalist also lost his still camera when the students robbed him as he was taking pictures.
Police officers were not spared either and three of them including an inspector received injuries courtesy of the students.
Motorists and commuters in the busy Haile Sellaise avenue also received injuries.
East African Standard Group Managing Editor, Mr Wachira Waruru, and the Nation editorial director ,Mr Wangethi Mwangi, both condemned the attack on journalists.
"The attack was totally uncalled for and does not help their case, " they said.
The riots started when police dispersed more than 500 students who had camped outside Jogoo House demanding an audience with the Minister of Education, Prof George Saitoti, at around 11.00 AM.
The students were protesting the recent appointment of the Deputy principal by who they identified only as Mr Ngatia.
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Copyright © 2003 The East African Standard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). |