The Nation journalist who saved Orengo’s life
Recce officers were chasing Mr Orengo
Speaking during an interview on KTN’s Untold Story, Mr. Orengo recounted how a battalion of officers almost rounded him up at Parliament building but was saved by Nation’s Cameraman, Joseph Mathenge.
On the fateful day, rumour had it that the former Ugenya MP would rise on a point of order over a sensitive matter, so Mathenge was keeping tabs on him probably to get a scoop.
“From the corridor that leads out to the car park that is adjacent to Uhuru Highway, people came about ten of them, heavily built. And I was told they were from the Recce section from Ruiru. As I was coming out of the chambers there they were and they were coming after me and nobody was stopping them.
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“When I looked around I said this is not something ordinary these guys are after my life. So I literally started running and they kept on coming. And what saved me was Mr. Mathenge who works with the Nation, a cameraman.
“He had expected me to raise something in the house and wanted to find out what I was doing. So when he came up from the steps of the first floor he had a very good view of what is happening and he took a picture as i running in the corridor of Parliament with these huge guys who were coming after me in a formation.
"I forever said that Mathenge saved my life," he said.
Mr Orengo still holds that picture dear to his heart just reminding him how a journalist saved his life from what was unprecedented.
Mr. Mathenge won three CNN awards in 2014 after capturing the Westgate mall attack on 21 September 2013.
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The photojournalist is now a freelance after leaving the Aga Khan-owned media house.
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