Journalists hold protests against police brutality

Journalists march in the streets of Kakamega town to protest against government harassment and police brutality. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Journalists from various media houses took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against increasing attacks on press freedom by the government.

The countrywide demonstrations, which saw media professionals march in the streets of major towns and cities, came in the wake of growing concerns over seeming efforts by the government to stifle the independence of the media.

The journalists carried placards and chanted slogans in defence of media freedoms. Some of the placards read; “Don’t Crush the Messenger” and “Don’t Shoot the Messenger”.

In Nairobi, journalists gathered in the CBD and were joined by members of the civil society groups and other citizens.

The protests were sparked by recent incidents of harassment of journalists by the police. Some of the scribes have sustained injuries after being attacked, and even shot. Journalists have also been intimidated by State officials for covering anti-government protests.

The journalists called on the government to respect and uphold their rights and to take immediate measures to end the harassment and intimidation of media professionals.

The scribes demanded accountability from the police, and the government in general, over the shooting of peaceful protesters, abductions, and harassment of journalists.

They also want the prosecution of rogue officers who attacked journalists. They want an assurance of their safety in the face of threats from State organs. The journalists want the Communications Authority and other State agencies to stop threatening media freedom.

“All duly recruited members of the Media Complaints Commission should be gazetted immediately. The Ministry of Information, Communication, and Digital Economy must stop interfering with media independence,” said a memorandum handed over at the ministry’s Teleposta headquarters.

They also want immediate payment of the money owed to media houses and the abolition of the Government Advertising Agency. They said the use of State advertising is meant to stifle the independence of the media.

“We are also demanding an end to censorship of journalists. We want unrestricted access to information,” the memorandum said.

The protests came days after a Nakuru-based journalist was said to have been shot by the police while covering anti-government protests.

On Tuesday, the Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga said he had directed the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to probe the matter.

“I have directed IPOA to investigate the shooting of Catherine Njeri Wariuki, a Kameme FM and TV reporter, which allegedly occurred within Nakuru County on July 16, 2024,” the DPP said.

Veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho was recently abducted inside the Karen Police Station before police released him, claiming it was a case of mistaken identity.

On Wednesday, Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) Secretary General Eric Odour said to the journalists: “What you do is critical. We will not accept any restrictions on media access to Parliament.”

Wajir South MP Mohammed Adoh, a former media practitioner, joined journalists, demanding they should be allowed to access Parliament as has been the case. “We must have the media back in Parliament.”

In Kakamega town, journalists marched peacefully through the streets to the acting County Commissioner Geoffrey Mayama’s office and presented a petition to him.

They demanded accountability from the government during the protests organised by Kakamega Journalists Welfare in conjunction with KUJ, Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA) and Kenya Editors Guild (KEG).

The members of the media fraternity chanted slogans and carried placards with messages such as “End police brutality” and “Journalists’ lives matter”.

They highlighted growing concerns among journalists about their safety and the challenges they face in accessing information both at the county and national government levels.

“We want to express our anger over police brutality against journalists, threats to shut media houses and other primitive strategies by the State organs and agencies, politicians and their hirelings bent on curtailing the hard-won freedom of expression,” said Nathan Ochunge, the secretary-general of Kakamega Journalists Welfare.

He called for thorough investigations into all reported cases of police brutality against journalists citing a case where a police officer threatened to shoot Royal Media Services reporter, Kefa Juma while covering anti-government protests in Kakamega town on Tuesday.

In Homa Bay, journalists accused police officers of being hellbent on stifling freedom of the Press.

The Secretary of Homa Bay Press Club George Odiwuor said all government agencies should respect the freedom of the media.

“Journalists are guaranteed several freedoms by the Constitution which cannot be taken away. The Constitution accords journalists the freedom of the Press. We are unhappy with the way some government officials infringe on the freedom of the media,” said Odiwuor.

The official called on all actors to respect the freedom of the media. “Failure to give journalists the freedom to carry out their duties should not be allowed. Kenyans deserve to be informed,” he said.

Maceline Odero, a member of the Press Club yesterday said: “Everyone, including those in government, must understand that journalism is not a crime.

[Shem Ashikumba, James Omoro, Benard Mogaka]