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Journalists in Kisii county on Wednesday held a peaceful demonstration across Kisii Town to condemn the incidents involving attacks, threats and abduction of scribes covering the anti-government protests witnessed in the country recently.
The demo comes after Nakuru-based journalist Catherine Kariuki was shot by an unknown police officer while covering a protest and the abduction of Nation Media Group’s Editor Macharia Gaitho while on his way to work.
The journalists who were carrying placards chanted songs that advocated for press freedom while marching through the streets of Kisii town before proceeding to the offices of the Kisii County Police Commander and County Commissioner where they aired their grievances.
Speaking in Kisii town, the Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA) Chairperson Araka Matara decried the increasing attacks on journalists while carrying out their duties. “We are here to express our fear of being targeted by various groups, including the police as we conduct our work, and recently, more than 10 journalists have been injured and their equipment destroyed while in the field,” lamented Matara.
He urged the security agencies to enforce the law and provide a conducive environment for journalists to conduct their work, instead of unleashing their wrath on them. John Momanyi from Media Max called upon the Government Advertising Agency (GAA) to provide advertising contracts to all media houses saying that without advertising, some media houses are unable to pay their workers.
“Advertising is among the sources of income to media houses and without it, some media houses are forced to shut down,” Momanyi noted. On his part, Eric Bosire from Etaya TV called upon the police to exercise professionalism and respect the freedom of journalists as enshrined in the Constitution.
He urged the relevant authorities to ensure that journalists affected by the protests get justice and necessary legal action is taken against those responsible. Further, Bosire called upon the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) and Media Council of Kenya (MCK) to ensure that journalists’ rights are protected.
Kisii County Police Commander, Charles Kases assured the scribes of maximum security and encouraged them to exercise responsible reporting and respect for the law. Kisii Central Assistant County Commissioner Felistus Mukau lauded the journalists for practicing their constitutional rights adding that those found guilty of harassing the members of the Fourth estate should face legal action.