Busia Based Journalists Advocate for Media Freedom 

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Press

Journalists in Busia County today joined their counterpart in the country in advocating for their rights and freedom while at work. The journalists drawn from different media houses condemned what they termed as police for brutality towards journalists witnessed during the recent protests.

Speaking in Busia town on Wednesday, Journalists led by Leonard Achari, from Royal Media Services, lauded Busia County security team for giving media the opportunity to cover their functions without interferences and intimidations.

Achari condemned those responsible for intimidation of journalists in other parts of the nation.

“I would like to appreciate security agencies in Busia for giving media opportunity to carry our activities without interference from the police. I want to condemn those security officers who have been mishandling and interfering with the freedoms of the journalists while on line of duty. What is happening to the journalists in other parts of the country is so discouraging,” he said adding that continuation of attack to the media will result to a nation with a failed democracy.

The reporter called on the authority to continue protecting the journalists while they are at work.

“Our work is to inform educate and entertain. Any interference to our freedom will mean we will not be able to inform and educate the public on what is happening. I am asking the police and the public to ensure that journalists have safe environment to work in,” he said.

Elias Iteba, from Busia Border Radio said they are on the streets in solidarity with journalists who have been oppressed in the other parts of the nation in relation to the ongoing protests coverings.

“We are not fighting with security agencies, what we are doing as journalists is outlined in the 2010 constitution of Kenya, We have the rights and freedom to work without interferences. What we are witnessing on some of us being kidnapped and shot is not good in a democratic nation,” he said.

 Robert Malala from Nyota TV asked the security agencies and leaders to ensure journalists are protected and perform their duties accordingly.

“I want to tell the security agencies and the leaders in the country that as journalists in Kenya we have rights as other Kenyan, we are human being too and we are your brothers and sisters so we deserve protection and freedom to do our work without interference. If you continue to interfere with our freedom, it means the public will not know what is happening in the country,” he said.

Journalists lamented on a number of issues they are facing from the police and government officials nationwide including police brutalities, abductions of journalists by the police, shooting of journalists and poor working environment from the police force and some government officials.