In a distressing turn of events, Citizen TV's Senior Political Affairs reporter, Stephen Letoo, has become the latest journalist to fall victim to a targeted robbery. Burglars vandalized Letoo's vehicle and made off with valuable possessions, leaving him questioning the motive behind the incident.
The unfortunate incident unfolded on a Friday night when Letoo had parked his vehicle at a local petrol station along Muthangari Road in the upscale neighborhood of Lavington. Minutes later, after completing his errands at the facility, he returned to his car, only to be greeted by a shattered glass window on the passenger seat.
A visibly distraught Letoo conducted a thorough inspection of his vehicle, only to discover the extent of the loss. Among the stolen items were a laptop, crucial hard drives containing professional work, personal belongings, and VIP invitation cards for an upcoming thanksgiving ceremony.
Expressing his concerns, Letoo questioned the seemingly targeted nature of the incident, given the presence of numerous vehicles in the parking lot. "I am still doing an assessment to find out if there is anything else they took. There were many vehicles in the parking lot, and I believe this was not an isolated case, since I am the only one who found my car in that state," he lamented.
To address the situation, Letoo promptly reported the robbery to the Muthangari Police Station, providing them with the necessary details through OB number 04/02/09/2023.
This incident adds to a growing list of journalists who have found themselves in precarious situations, often falling victim to robberies or attacks in the line of their professional duties. Just earlier this year, on March 27, 2023, African Uncensored's John Allan Namu raised concerns after fellow journalists faced assaults and arrests while covering mass demonstrations staged by the Azimio coalition.
On the same day, journalists working for various media houses, who were reporting on the same demonstrations, encountered a rowdy gang in Kibra. Some sustained injuries during the encounter, while others were robbed of their equipment and personal belongings.
These distressing incidents serve as alarming indicators of the escalating crime rates in the country. According to the 2023 Economic Survey conducted by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), theft cases surged from 11,762 in 2021 to 14,714 in 2022, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced security measures and vigilance among media practitioners and the general public alike.
