Media Stakeholders on Sunday, April 2, revealed an alleged plan by the government to shut down broadcast media and the internet across the country ahead of the Azimio-led protests on Monday, April 3.
Speaking to the press, Kenya Editor’s Guild President Churchill Otieno Issued a 7-day ultimatum to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to issue a statement on the attack on journalists by the police on Thursday, March 30.
Further, he stated that there was an increasing wave of attacks on journalists both online and offline adding that journalists were additionally targeted by police officers since the Azimio mass protests began on March 20.
Churchill warned against the profiling of journalists by Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, the Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and the Inspector General of Police.
“This would be most ill-advised and a grievous assault on Kenya’s democracy because it denies the Kenyan public their right to information. Taking this route will sink us all as a country.
“We have documented more than 20 cases of attacks and violations against journalists by law enforcement officers including harassment, arbitrary arrests, and physical attacks,” Churchill stated.
Further, the Executive Director of the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) Patience Nyange called upon Independent Policing Oversight Authority(IPOA) to address the nation on the status of the investigation of police brutality against journalists.
She called on the government to compensate journalists covering the protests including paying for their medical treatment and replacing the destroyed equipment.
“Failure to which media houses will consider blocking out the coverage of government events. Journalists must be provided with proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs),” She noted.
The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) Secretary General Erick Oduor announced that journalists would hold demonstrations on Wednesday, April 5, if any journalist will be attacked during protests on Monday, April 3.
“We are calling on journalists all over the country to come out in large numbers and protest if tomorrow there will be cases of attacks against journalists.
"We will hold the head of police Japhet Koome individually responsible if there will be any attacks on journalists or if any equipment will be destroyed,” Oduor affirmed.
