Uproar as journalists face assault and arrest during anti-Finance Bill protests

Journalists covering the second day of the anti-Finance Bill protests on Thursday were again harassed and injured by some of the police officers preventing demonstrators from accessing the central business district.

During one instance, NTV reporter Ibrahim Karanja had to confront an officer who was captured on camera beating up a protester outside Nation Centre.

In yet another instance, an officer who had warned The Eastleigh Voice photographer Hafsa Hassan that he had marked her on Tuesday after she and other colleagues covering the protests captured his actions on camera hit her foot on Thursday, causing her soft tissue injuries.

At the same time, an international journalist suffered injuries after he was hit with a teargas canister during today's demonstrations as CNN’s crew led by reporter Larry Madowo were sprayed with water cannons as the crew covered the protests in the city.

The actions by the police against journalists came a day after the Media Council of Kenya condemned similar acts on Tuesday that saw more journalists arrested and attacked while covering the protests.

“The council is dismayed that while journalists were relying on police to provide them with security in the line of duty, the security officers resorted to manhandling, harassing, arresting and assaulting them. This is despite the fact that the journalists were well identified with MCK badges and press jackets,” MCK CEO David Omwoyo said on Tuesday.

During the Tuesday’s protests, The Eastleigh Voice reporter Hanifa Adan was among the journalists harassed and arrested even before the protests began.

Others were Joe Muhia and Iddi Ali Juma of AP who were arrested and later released after being assaulted.

At the same time, in an incident caught on camera, Standard Group’s video editor Justice Mwangi Macharia was arrested and violently hauled out of a moving police vehicle, sustaining physical injuries.

Anti-riot police officers are pictured in the Nairobi Central Business District on June 18, 2024, during protests against Finance Bill, 2024. (Photo: Hafsa Hassan/EV)

Nation Media Group’s Taifa Leo reporter Sammy Kimatu was also thrown out of a moving police Land Rover, sustained injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

NTV’s Maureen Mureithi was also hospitalised after police aimed a canister at her as she covered the protests.

“Today’s unfortunate events remind us that members of the National Police Service remain the weak link in Kenya’s quest for freedom of expression and freedom of the media as espoused in our constitution. We call on the Inspector General of Police to rein in on his officers by ensuring that journalists are protected and not targeted for harassment while performing their duties in any working environment,” added  Omwoyo.

Complaints over police use of excessive force against protestors were also made by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and Human Rights Organisations involved in tracking police conduct during the two days of protests.

“At least 35 persons have been arrested across the country. They include; Nairobi (20) Garissa (1), Kisumu (3), Vihiga (4), Narok (4), Uasin Gishu (70) and Nakuru (2),” read a joint statement by Amnesty International-Kenya, LSK, Kenya Medical Association, Defenders Coalition and the Independent-Medico Legal Unit (IMLU).

They added that 200 persons were injured during the Thursday protests in Nairobi, sustaining soft tissue injuries and effects of tear gas inhalation.

“50 have been referred for further specialized treatment, there were five casualties of rubber bullet injuries, police teargas canisters and batons. Six people were hit by cars while running away from police officers. There is confirmation of live shootings verified by the presence of spent cartridges,” the statement added.

In a separate statement, the International Commission of Jurists, Kenya called for urgent respect to the right to protest and a stop to the use of live bullets on protesters.

The NPS is yet to issue a statement on its officers’ conduct, only maintaining that it’s committed to maintaining law and order and to “protect life and property.”

On its part, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) said it is monitoring police conduct during the ongoing wave of protests and will make a report recommending necessary action to the concerned agencies.