NAIROBI: June 26, 2024
The Kenya Editors’ Guild notes with concern the unfolding events surrounding the protests against the Finance Bill 2024.
We condemn the senseless killing of protesters by security officers during the protests. Security officers were captured on television using violence. This is unacceptable in modern Kenya, and thus responsible must be held to account for their acts of commission of omission.
It is also worrying that the journalists who were covering the events were beaten, harassed and intimidated as part of the State’s attempts to stop them from doing their work and violating people’s right to know what was happening. Article 34 (2) of the Constitution is clear that the State shall not interfere with any person engaged in broadcasting, production or circulation of any publication or the dissemination of information by any medium; or penalise any person for any opinion or view or the content of any broadcast or publication. The violation of the journalists’ rights and freedoms is tantamount to an assault on media freedom, and freedom of expression.
We call upon the Inspector General of Police to ensure the safety of journalists who have been subjected to attacks, including those by police officers. It is imperative that law enforcement respects the rights of journalists and protects them from harm as they perform their duties.
We also call upon the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA) to look into the requests by the Guild to conclude investigations. In 2023, a letter was sent to the DPP with a list of journalists who were injured during protests on the cost of living. The offending officers must be brought to book.
Kenya Editors’ Guild commends the members of the fourth estate for their courage while covering a hostile situation. We commend the spirit of camaraderie displayed by the teams in the field, through sharing of signal.
As KEG and Kenya Media Sector Working Group, we will continue to do all we can to advocate for the safety of journalists and the freedom of the press. We stand in solidarity with our colleagues in the field and remain committed to ensuring that they can report without fear of harm.
