Media council pushes for access to information on terrorism cases

Media Council of Kenya Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Programmes Manager Victor Bwire speaks during validation of a handbook on terror reporting in Nairobi hotel. (Photo: George Njunge/Standard)

Nairobi: Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has cited denial of information by the police as the major hindrance to reporting on terrorism.

MCK deputy boss Victor Bwire lamented that journalists have turned to social media sites operated by terrorist groups in order to get information.

For this reason, some (journalists) are being charged with terrorism acts as the police see it as a way of propagating the terrorists’ ideologies.

"Whilst police are in the job of protecting information, journalists are in the business of selling the information. But Article 35 demands disclosure of information from security agencies," said Bwire.

A recent scenario is the conflicting number of Kenya Defense Force (KDF) soldiers who were killed in El Ade Somalia during which period the Kenyan government remained mum, forcing the media to rely on their international counterparts and Al Shabaab videos.

"Police need to know they benefit more by giving information than hiding. If they hide, journalist will speculate or get it from elsewhere whether credible or not," said Bwire.

Bwire was speaking Tuesday during a deliberation forum between government and media personnel on a new handbook on reporting on terrorism set to be launched in two weeks.

The handbook seeks to compel the security forces to be media friendly, uphold right to information, and prioritize safety of journalists when in terrorism prone environment.

"As much as journalists demand to have information, we have to make them understand that they can be victims at times and even be used for recruitment," noted Ministry of Interior spokesperson Mwenda Njoka.

Njoka said the country is dealing with tough security challenges which require the media to review its stand regards to information, types of images used and reporting.

"It is not fair to report on a family that has lost an individual to a terrorist attack, again exposing them to more trauma," said Njoka.

But Bwire said it actually benefits the police more if they disclose information: "...but not just any information. It should be credible as at times state information is clear lies."