Journalists on Wednesday made eight demands to President Uhuru Kenyatta as they commemorated the World Press Freedom Day.
In an event held at Amnesty International, the media professionals addressed issues that they faced under the theme: “Concern for the Safety and Protection of Journalists in the Region”.
Among the issues addressed included the media shutdown that happened earlier in the year and incidents of journalists getting brutalized while in the line of duty.
[caption caption="Kenya Union of Journalists Nakuru Chapter"]
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In this regard, a report by Article 19 Eastern Africa made eight recommendations to President Kenyatta and the government of Kenya to:
1. Publicly restate the government’s commitment to upholding freedom of expression, media freedom and safety of journalists at all times.
2. Ensure full respect for international law on freedom of expression by allowing full, open reporting and commentary on any issues of pressing public interest, including security, corruption, and accountability for past election-related violence.
3. Publicly condemn all physical attacks, killings, threats, harassment, obstruction, intimidation and arbitrary arrests of journalists and bloggers, and direct government officials and security forces to end the harassment, threats or physical attacks against journalists and bloggers.
4. Direct the Inspector General of police to ensure prompt, thorough, independent and effective investigation of attacks, including killings and threats against journalists and bloggers, and to adopt a plan that to address the failure inadequately investigating existing cases.
5. Amend existing laws, including the Information and Communications Act, Media Council of Kenya Act and Security Laws Amendment Act, and administrative measures introduced since 2013, to bring them into line with Kenya’s obligations under international law regarding freedom of expression.
6. Ensure that all laws enacted before the passage of the 2010 Constitution such as the Official Secrets Act, Preservation of Public Security Act, and the penal code are amended or repealed to meet Kenya’s international legal obligations.
[caption caption="Kenya Union of Journalists Nakuru Chapter"]
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7. Ensure all government agencies, including the Government Advertising Agency, do not use threats of loss of government-sponsored advertising in exchange for favourable coverage or as punishment for critical reporting.
8. Ensure that officials, regardless of rank or position, who threaten, harass, or arbitrarily arrest individuals on the basis of unlawfully intercepted or acquired information are appropriately disciplined or prosecuted.
