Journalists around the country took to the streets Thursday, protesting against mysterious killings and harassment.
This follows reports of journalists being intimidated, physically abused or even being killed in the line of duty.
“Various agencies and actors of the national and county governments and in some cases citizens have taken it upon themselves to normalise, justify and rationalise harassment, stalking, physical abuse, online bashing, physical assaults and in some cases attempted assassinations of journalists on the basis of unfavourable reporting,” read a petition by the journalists.
Nairobi-based journalists submitted the petition to Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keriako Tobiko, who declined to address the members of the Fourth Estate.
Mr Tobiko after listening to the grievances by five representatives in his boardroom suggested those with cameras be let in, a move highly protested by the other journalists who demanded that the DPP addresses the whole group outside his office.
“We will not accept boardroom meetings, ateremke chini atuongeleshe (let him come and address us),” they shouted.
Another petition was also presented to the office of the Inspector General of Police, which was received by Police Chief Simon Kiragu. Mr Kiragu assured them that the petition would be given to IG Joseph Boinnet and action taken.
Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Vice Chairman George Morara, while addressing the Pess at Freedom Corner before the commencement of the demo, called for credible and prompt investigations into the situations where police, public and private actors have been implicated in violating rights of journalists.
“We have received your petition and we will launch a formal complaint with the relevant authorities if nothing is done,” Mr Morara said.
The journalists marched through Nairobi streets carrying a banner reading “Wanahabari Taabani” (Journalists in danger) and printed placards reading: “Journalists’ lives matter” and “Investigate and prosecute threats to journalists”.
Suspected poisoning
The protests were ignited by the recent death of Kilifi-based Standard reporter, Joseph Masha, who died under mysterious circumstances.
Mr Masha died after complaining of stomach ache, a day before he collapsed and died. It is suspected that he was poisoned after threatening text messages were found in his phone.
Another death was reported Thursday where a photojournalist was shot three times with an AK47 at his home in Kitale.
Physical harassment incidents include a video footage showing two journalists from Royal Media Services and the Nation Media Group (NMG) being beaten by Murang’a County security officers.
In Nyeri County, NMG and The Standard journalists Grace Gitau and Lydia Nyawira were in August assaulted by MCAs for taking photographs of their colleagues fighting.
In 2015, NMG’s Nehemia Okwemba and Citizens TV’s Reuben Ogachi were attacked by General Service Unit officers. The two journalists were investigating a complaint by pastoralists regarding the confiscation of over 200 cattle by police.
In Nakuru, journalists converged at the Nakuru Railway station and held a peaceful demonstration along Kenyatta Avenue. Timothy Chepsoi and Suleiman Mbatiah who led the protest, presented the petition to Nakuru County Deputy County Commissioner Omar Benja.
The nearly 50 journalists urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Ndegwa Muhoro and Tobiko to ensure thorougher investigations into the death of Masha.
Their counterparts in Kakamega also demanded for a conclusive investigation into Masha’s death.
Kakamega Rural Media Group cited Article 19 report of 2015 which portrayed Kilifi as a safe county for journalists but regretted that matter appears to have taken an about turn.
“It is now appearing that hitherto safe counties have become hostile to journalists. Demands for justice in murder cases involving truth harbingers like blogger Jacob Juma have been overshadowed with news of fresh deaths. We hope that this won’t be the case with Joseph Masha,” said Robert Amalemba, the group’s secretary.
Journalists in Nyeri and Murang’a joined their colleagues in taking to the streets to protest against the injustices against their colleagues. They said the current wave of attacks on journalists by armed gangs and politicians were aimed at silencing them so that ills happening in the society remain hidden.
In Murang’a, protesting journalists demanded immediate arrest of Kakuzi Limited guards who assaulted Julius Kariithi (Inooro FM) and Mburu Gaita (NTV) on Friday.
They unleashed terror on the two journalists as they covered a demonstration where locals were protesting against alleged attempt by the multinational company to repossess a piece of land belonging to Gititu secondary school.
Nyeri journalists, through their association chairman Ndung’u Guchu, accused State agents and politicians of being guided by selfish interests. “Media freedoms and rights are enshrined in Section 34 of the Constitution,” they said.
Reporting by Lonah Kibet, Stephen Mkawale, Grace Wekesa, Boniface Gikandi and Job Weru
