KENYA MEDIA SECTOR WORKING GROUP
STATEMENT ON ATTACK AGAINST JOURNALISTS COVERING PROTESTS
NAIROBI: June 22, 2024
The Kenya Media Sector Working Group (KMSWG) is outraged by the violence perpetrated by police officers against journalists covering the street protests against the Finance Bill 2024.
Some incidents of police brutality against journalists have been brought to the attention of the Working Group this week that require intervention of authorities to protect members of the Fourth Estate who have been deployed to inform the public over what is happening in the country.
Police brutality has been unleashed on several other journalists who were discharging their duties believing that their rights, including media freedom, access to information and safety are guaranteed under Article 33,34 and 35 of the Constitution.
The KMSWG has recorded the following cases
| NAME | Media House | Attack | |
| 1. | Justus Mwangi | Standard Media | Roughed up, bundled into police vehicle, thrown off
speeding vehicle |
| 2. | Maureen Muthoni | Nation Media Group | Injured Arrested |
| 3. | Mohammed Yusuf | Voice of
America |
Obstructed |
It is shocking and disturbing that this pattern of violence by police against journalists in the line of duty repeats itself one year after similar violence was meted out against journalists covering street protests against the high cost of living.
Despite multiple constructive stakeholder engagements with security chiefs over the past one year to secure the safety of journalists during such events, Tuesday’s incidents leave no doubt that police violence against journalists is now an in-house policy.
In this regard, the Kenya Media Sector Working Group condemns in the strongest terms unprovoked and unwarranted violence perpetrated by police officers against journalists and many other Kenyans are exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights against a legislative proposal that threatens their very existence. We also call upon the Inspector General of Police and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to take action against the officers involved.
As media practitioners, we do understand the positives and negatives of taxation, and we have a duty to cover all sides of the debate, and that’s why our journalists were in the field covering protests against the Finance Bill 2024.
Going forward, we call on the police to desist targeting journalists for violence because such violence against journalists places a chilling-effect on freedom of media as guaranteed under Article 34 of the Constitution.
We put Inspector General (IG) of Police Japhet Koome on notice that Kenya Media Sector working Group will take legal action against him over current attacks on journalists.
We call upon him to ensure that troops are trained on engagement protocols with journalists covering protests. Those who abused power should be held accountable.
We also call upon media owners to ensure safety measures for journalists are deployed on such assignments, including provision of press jackets and prior safety briefing.
Kenya Media Sector Working Group appeals to journalists across the country who have suffered police brutality during the ongoing protests to channel their complaints to any media association to form the basis for legal action against Inspector General of Police.
About the Kenya Media Sector Working Group Signed:
- Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ)
- Kenya Editors Guild (KEG)
- Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA)
- Association of Freelance Journalists (AFJ)
- Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK)
- Digital Broadcasters Association (DBA)
- International Association of Women in Radio and TV (IAWRT)
- Article-19 Eastern Africa
- Eastern Africa Editors’ Society (EAES)
- Association of Professional Broadcasters (APB)
- Kenya Parliamentary Journalists Association
- Baraza Media Lab
- Association of Devolution Journalists
- Kenya Community Media Network
- Development Through Radio
- Association of Professional Broadcasters
- Digital Broadcasters Association
- Media Owners Association
- Grassroots Journalists Association
- Foreign Press Association, Africa
About the Kenya Media Sector Working Group
KMSWG is a coalition of key media actors, bringing together journalists and other civil society organisations. KMSWG convenes to deliberate on the operating environment of the media, guided by articles 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the Constitution on Kenya, speaking to freedoms of expression, media, access to information and assemble respectively.
