The Kenya Editors' Guild (KEG) on Thursday condemned alleged threats directed at journalists working for the Royal Media Services which owns Citizen TV.
While condemning the act, the editor's body called on the government to offer protection for all the media houses and categorically the targeted media house.
The editors' guild disclosed the said RMS journalists allegedly received the threatening messages through fliers that were circulated on social media platforms.
According to KEG, the anonymous individuals also went ahead and threatened to storm the media house.
“The Guild would like to condemn the threats being peddled on social media by anonymous individuals who have also threatened to storm the media house,” read part of the statement.
The professional body for the editors termed the attacks as an assault against the constitutional media freedom that was being perpetrated by the presumed custodians of law and order.
“Article 34 (2) makes it 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," the editors guild noted.
The editors pointed out that it was not the first time such an attack had been lodged against media houses or individual journalists by state or non-state actors.
KEG similarly expressed concerns about the growing spate of assaults perpetrated by police officers whose role was to ensure safety and security for all Kenyans.
The protest by the Editors' Guild comes barely a day after a journalist who works for K24 TV was reportedly shot in the thigh while conducting a live coverage of the recent anti-government protests.
According to reports, the Nakuru-based journalist was allegedly struck three times in the thigh by rubber bullets despite visibly wearing press identification.
Following the incident, the journalist was rushed to the Valley Hospital before she was later transferred to the Nakuru Provincial General Hospital Annex.
