State reassures of media independence in wake of violence meted out on journalists

The government has assured media houses that it has no intentions of interrupting their mandate.

Addressing the media on Thursday, Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura emphasised that the independence of the media will not in any way interfere with their mandate.

At the same time, he called for dialogue between the state and the Fourth Estate.

"We are ready to have a conversation with you so that we can ensure you perform your duties effectively without any bias," Mwaura said.

However, Mwaura emphasised the importance of media houses to be objective in reporting the ongoing protests in the country.

Various media associations have warned that the freedom of the press is under attack.

This is after Mediamax journalist Catherine Wanjeri was shot by police on Tuesday along Kenyatta Avenue in Nakuru's Central Business District, despite her wearing an identifiable press jacket.

Media Council of Kenya expressed its outrage over the brutal attack on journalists by police officers while covering the anti-government protests, terming what happened to Wanjeri as shameful and terrifying.

Strike notice

The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) issued a seven-day ultimatum to IPOA to investigate and prosecute the police officer who allegedly shot Wanjeri.

"We demand action against the trigger-happy police officer who targeted journalists who had been deployed by media houses to inform Kenyans. IPOA must investigate the officer involved and the source of orders to shoot journalists within seven days and prosecute the suspect," KUJ Secretary General Erick Oduor, said.

The situation was further exacerbated on Wednesday when veteran Journalist Macharia Gaitho was arrested by detectives inside Karen Police station in the company of his son who filmed the arrest raising alarm across the media fraternity.

The detectives however released Gaitho claiming it was a case of mistaken identity.

However, addressing the media at Karen Police Station the veteran journalist said that he believed his arrest was not a case of mistaken identity and would be demanding accountability for the police officers involved to be held responsible

"It is clear that all these things are connected that the police are operating outside the law to intimidate, arrest, and harass innocent people," Gaitho said.

"We will be demanding proper accountability from all those who are responsible and who claim to be in charge of security in Kenya," he added.

As a result, Kenya Editors Guild ( KEG) President Zubeida Kananu on Wednesday issued a 7-day strike notice, warning that media practitioners will resort to the streets if action will not be taken against attacks on Kenyan journalists witnessed during the recent anti-government protests.

Kananu criticised the government for turning a blind eye to the safety and security of media practitioners in Kenya.

"We are giving a 7-day notice for the perpetrators to be brought to books, it seems like, that is the language the government best understands," she said.

Kananu insisted that the recent instances of excessive use of force by police officers on Kenyans are uncalled for and contravene the Constitution of Kenya and particularly, the Bill of Rights.

The Editors Guild ( KEG) President further revealed that the majority of the journalists have been receiving threats and intimidation to censor them from covering certain events of public interest objectively.

"Media has the right to cover any event for the interest of the public provided that this is done within the jurisdiction of the law. We will not be cowed or threatened anymore because that is our right as media practitioners," Kananu added.