IPOA to question police officers over arrest of Citizen TV journalist Francis Ode
The journalist says he was beaten and detained while covering fuel price protests in Nairobi's CBD, despite identifying himself.
Based on reporting by Kenyans.co.ke and Citizen Digital.
Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi's central business district. File photo, 2025. Photo: Bahnfrend / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) plans to question at least seven police officers over the arrest of Citizen TV crime journalist Francis Ode while he was covering protests against high fuel prices in Nairobi on Tuesday.
Ode, also known as Odee Francis, says he was filming on Kimathi Street when a uniformed officer ordered his arrest. He says he told the officers several times that he was a journalist, but was beaten, had his clothes torn and was driven to Central Police Station with the activists. These are his allegations, and no response from the police has been reported.
He was released without charge and has filed a complaint with IPOA. Kenyans.co.ke reports that those to be questioned include Central Police Station commander Patrick Gogo and five officers accused of carrying out the arrest. Citizen Digital reports that IPOA will also look into claims that officers refused to record his complaint in the Occurrence Book.
Three activists arrested at the same time were released on Sh5,000 cash bail each at the Milimani Law Courts while investigations continue, according to Citizen Digital.
The Crime Journalists Association of Kenya has condemned the arrest. The Media Council of Kenya recorded 92 press freedom violations in 2025, down from 130 in 2024.
