The Kenya Police Service has issued a stern warning that serious action will be taken regarding all harassment cases filed by journalists involving police officers.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Edward Mbugua, who engaged a team from the Kenya Editors Guild led by its president Churchill Otieno at Vigilance House on Thursday, January 30, promised that all cases reported by members of the fourth estate would be followed to completion.
The statement by the DIG succeeds prior complaints lodged to Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai by the KEG president over the increasing cases of violent attacks on journalists in the line of duty.
"Journalists, cameramen, and photographers have lodged a complaint with the inspector general of the National Police Service complaining of harassment and manhandling by police officers during riot management,"
"You are directed to refrain from mistreating the media fraternity as it is their responsibility to keep the public informed. Pass the information to officers under your command," a statement by DIG Mbugua read in part.
Any officer found to have manhandled any person will be dealt with as provided by the law," Mbugua warned.
On Friday, January 17, KEG had written to IG Mutyambai, calling for justice to be served to media personnel who had suffered harassment at the hands of law enforcement, noting several instances in the year 2020 alone.
"Our particular concern is the growing spate of assaults perpetrated by officers of the National Police Service, the very organ mandated by law to ensure safety and security for all in Kenya," the letter by KEG read.
The commission fronted three separate instances in the week ending January 17, where journalists were assaulted by the police.
On Friday, January 10, Wanjohi Githae of Daily Nation and Brian Obuya of KTN, while on duty covering a breaking news item at Kilimani Police Station in Nairobi, were allegedly assaulted by seven police officers.
On Sunday, January 12, Robert Maina of Inooro TV was allegedly clobbered and his equipment seized by police officers from Njoro Police Station in Nakuru County, as he covered student unrest at Egerton University.
In another case on Monday, January 13, Laban Walloga of Daily Nation was reportedly attacked by law enforcement in Mombasa Town while he covered protests against the transportation of cargo via the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
In his statement, Mbugua noted that most of the complaints lodged against officers in 2020, were related to the Egerton University student protests and the Mombasa anti-SGR demonstrations.
KEG argued that the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of Kenya was explicit on the entrenched rights of the media, which is to operate without sabotage, seconded by the right to freedom of expression and the right to receive and impart information granted to all in Kenya.
According to Article 34 (2) of the constitution, the state shall not interfere with any person engaging in broadcasting, production or circulation of any publication or the dissemination of information by any medium; or penalise any person for any opinion, view, or content of any broadcast or publication.
Therefore, attacks on journalists by police officers who are presumed custodians of the law is in complete violation of the same law.
KEG stated that an unpunished act of violence by officers on members of the media would be inferred as the state wilfully violating freedom of the media and thus called for justice.
"We demand the immediate arrest and arraignment of the police officers involved in these grievous assaults against freedom of the media.
"We also demand that the officers in charge of the respective police divisions where these offences were committed at be held directly accountable for the unlawful actions of those under their command," the editors urged.
The guild called upon the office of the director of public prosecutions and the independent policing oversight authority to execute their mandate in ensuring justice for the victims and punishment for the offenders.
