Top Journalists Detained for Being a ‘Security Threat’

 

With the latest spate of terrorist attacks on innocent civilians, security breach is out of the question. However, in some cases, some private security personnel use excessive force in not-so tense and potentially dangerous situation.

Last Friday, two of Kenya’s greatest showbiz columnists, Grace Kerongo of The Star and Cate Mukei of The Nairobian were unlawfully detained by security guards at The Panari Hotel for interviewing a guest “without permission”.

Thing is, Kenyan Hollywood actor, Benji Onyango, known for his work on Tears of the Sun (2003), Kwame (2008) and Inception (2010), was in the country to promote his latest movie, God’s Not Dead and as such he was staying at The Panari.

So, when Grace, Cate and a camera guy caught wind of his visit, they decided to seize the opportunity to interview the Kenyan-born actor.

 

Grace, the late Ruhila, Cate

However, all did not go well as the interview was put to a stop as soon as it had begun.

Reason?

Well, according to Grace, Panari’s management were disgruntled as to why the journalists had not sought “permission” to interview their guest saying it’s their policy. Four security guards allegedly rushed into the place to stop the interview as one of them manhandled Richard Malowa who was doing PR for Benji’s team.

“We were detained for 2 and half hours ati as they try to sort out the issue. The security supervisor one Ishmael Njiru was thretening ati this is a police case you will be arrested for trespass,” protests Grace.

The hotel’s management argues that they asked Grace to stop the interview but she declined and instead insisted to know why she had to, upon which they informed her that “they were not told”. At that point, Grace politely asked them to address Malowa since he was the one who called them for that interview and carried on with the interview. It’s then that the security guys were summoned.

“Kwani, how many times have journalists conducted interviews with celebrities who visit, at the hotel lobbies?” Grace wonders aloud.

The security and PR & Marketing of the hotel spoke to George Hargreaves, CEO, Kingdom Cinemas Limited, who was in charge of the production crew PR, to sort out the issue.

 

Benji

Hargreaves says he “had to sign a bunch of papers and an apology over the issue”. He later asked what other hotel would be recommended for when they come back for the movie premiere in April 18.

An onlooker at the hotel, Oki Odula says, “After the journalists were shuffled off, one security guy came back to ask Benji to leave because he probably looked down to earth and didn’t have the airs of a star who’s lived in Tinseltown for decades. But he stood his ground and told them he was a guest at the hotel. They left him alone.”

Oki adds, “The funny thing is that another press interview was ongoing at the restaurant with an executive of Pure Flix Entertainment who was also part of the production team. Nobody asked them what they were doing. Folks need to stop discriminating. It made the hotel look dumb.”

The security supervisor, Ishmael Njiru maintains that both the hotel guests and the journalists were supposed to follow the hotel’s policy.

“It is hotel policy to inform them what you are doing in their premises because it is private property and we have the right to admission,” held Njiru.

Meanwhile, God’s Not Dead premiere’s in Kenya on Wednesday April 16th in Nakuru the Christian Revival Church (CRC) at 7:00 PM and on Thursday April 17th at Century Cinemax, Junction in Nairobi.