Kenya Media Council castigates police camouflaging as journalists to arrest protesters

NAIROBI, Kenya

The Media Council of Kenya has Wednesday castigated cases of security officers camouflaging as journalists covering protests with intent to arrest protesters.

Through a statement, MCK noted that the impersonation of journalists by the police is a grace unprofessional misconduct on the part of the police and endangers the lives of journalists in the line of duty.

The council called out the security officers for not only arresting journalists but also posing as reporters covering protests to aid an easy arrest of protestors.

This was after an officer in plain clothes was seen masquerading as a photographer before he was instructed to make a swift arrest of one of the demonstrators in one of the videos making rounds on social media.

Later, the man was escorted to a heavily guarded police vehicle.

In a press statement, MCK noted that the impersonation of journalists by police is a threat to media work and compromises the safety of journalists.

"The media council has noted with deep concern cases of security officers camouflaging as journalists covering protests with intent to arrest protestors. Impersonation of journalists by the police is grave unprofessional misconduct on the part of the police and endangers the lives of journalists in the line of duty," the statement reads in parts.

Further, the council says although journalists who had been arrested in the line of duty were released, their arrest was uncalled for.

"While the council appreciates the release of journalists who were earlier arrested while covering protests, the detaining of journalists was unnecessary, arbitrary and ridiculous.

Police officer posing as a photographer before making a swift arrest of one of the protestors. PHOTO/Screengrab

The work of journalists is protected under Articles 33, 34 and 35 of the Constitution, a right that should be protected by all," MCK noted.