Kenya media practitioners condemn attacks targeting Journalists

By Serfine Achieng, NAIROBI Kenya 

Media practitioners in Kenya have strongly condemned the rising trend of attacks targeting journalists in the line of duty. The latest incident involves threats directed at journalists working for Royal Media Services through fliers shared on social media.

The Kenya Editors’ Guild has termed these threats as an assault on the constitutional guarantees of media freedom. 

The Media Owners Association of Kenya has also called for speedy investigations into these attacks and for collaboration to create a safe environment for journalists.

This comes despite an assurance by government spokesman Isaac Mwaura that the government is not at war with the media.

The ongoing anti-government protests have brought their own complexities, with concerns raised over the increase in cases of police brutality, threats, and intimidation. Journalists, who have bravely stayed on the frontline of the protests to keep the public informed, have been among those on the receiving end of these attacks.

Journalists have faced the effects of tear gas, water cannons, and running battles in the line of duty. Many have remained at the heart of the chaos, but for some, it has come at a price due to the surge in attacks on journalists.

In a statement to newsrooms, the Kenya Editors Guild strongly condemned the threats being peddled on social media by anonymous individuals, who have also threatened to storm Royal Media Services.

The Guild also raised concerns over the growing spate of assaults perpetrated by police officers, who are mandated by law to ensure safety and security for all in Kenya, including journalists. They termed this as an assault on the Constitution.

These sentiments were echoed by the Media Owners Association, which cited the attempted abduction of veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho, the shooting of MediaMax journalist Catherine Wanjeri wa Kariuki, and the harassment of CNN photojournalist Fabien Muhire as grave violations of press freedom.

The Media Owners insisted that journalists must be able to work without fear of intimidation or physical harm. The statement further challenged any individual or entity dissatisfied with media coverage to seek recourse through established channels such as the Media Council of Kenya.

They are calling for speedy investigations into the attacks on journalists and for the government to ensure the safety and security of all journalists covering the Gen-Z protests and other public events. They also emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to safeguard freedom of expression and press freedom.

Addressing the media on Thursday, government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura affirmed the government’s commitment to providing a safe environment for journalists, adding that the government is not at war with journalists and will stand in solidarity with them.