Likoni Tragedy: Traumatised Journalists Get International Assistance

The Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA) on Wednesday, October 16, revealed that they would offer psychological counselling to all journalists who covered the Likoni ferry accident.

Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, KCA chairman Oloo Jenaak disclosed that plans were underway to make sure the journalists recovered fully from the traumatic incident.

The counselling services will be offered in conjunction with IREX, an international organisation invested in the welfare of journalists, especially in Africa.

"We have prepared a counselling session for all journalists who were on ground when the accident happened as this is part of what we do," Jenaak said.

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Jenaak added that the association had already mobilized the journalists who would meet in Mombasa for the debriefing process.

"It is not our first time doing this as we have helped out correspondents before. We were also involved after the 2017 post-election violence where we guided journalists who faced tough times covering it," Jenaak narrated.

He also divulged that they had published a handbook called Killing The Messenger which was written to aid journalists who were covering traumatic events.

"We partnered with IREX over the last three years to do safety training and psycho-social support for journalists," he affirmed.

He also noted that the association quickly responded to situations where journalists were at a risk of being affected mentally.

"KCA covers ground from Garissa, Mombasa and even Nairobi as long as we are requested by media groups or other organisations for journalists," Jenaak added.

The tragic accident at Likoni claimed the lives of Mariam Kighenda and her 4-year old daughter Amanda Mutheu who drowned after being trapped inside their car that slid into the ocean on September 29.

The bodies were retrieved 13 days later by a team of divers who managed to locate the car and pull it out of the Ocean.

Kenyan journalists
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