Journalists in Kakamega County marched to the county police headquarters demanding action against a county officer who they alleged fond of issuing death threats to them.
Speaking during the protest march on Wednesday, the journalists stated that the officer had been abusing his power to distract them from discharging their mandate.
The journalists stated that they had received threats when they sought information that would possibly expose negative things about the County Government.
One particular journalist stated that death threats were issued to him over a story he was pursuing.
“When he ushered me to the office, he started ranting to me, he never gave me time and he questioned me if I was aware he was a political appointee of the Governor, he also asked if I was there to justify there was some negligence in government.”
“Then he told me if you are man enough to publish that story, we shall meet in the streets,” stated the journalist
Additionally, journalists pursuing investigative pieces had also been threatened on numerous occasions.
“This is not the first time we are facing this, we are coming out because it has become a normal occurrence for us to be threatened and sometimes told, if you write this story we shall call your media house and ask them to sack you,” the journalists protested.
The journalists further issued an ultimatum to the police to summon the officer to record a statement by close of business on Thursday.
They also claimed that they had already recorded a statement with the police but no action had been taken towards the officer.
Incidentally, this is not the first incidence where journalists have found their lives at risk.
On February 1, officers attached to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) were reportedly captured assaulting a Kitale-based Standard Media Group correspondent.
It is reported that the journalist attempted to record an arrest incident where a police officer was ambushed taking bribes.
