Reassurance
Nyeri County Commissioner Pius Murugu has assured journalists working in the county of their safety and security as they cover protests.
While acknowledging the role that the media plays in keeping the public informed, Murugu said the county security team will continue to work closely with the media to ensure they remain unharmed as they cover anti-government demonstrations which entered their fifth week on Tuesday.
“I would like to appreciate the members of the press working in this county for the professional way that you have conducted yourselves since the protests started. We have not reported any incident of injured journalists and I want to assure you of your security as you undertake your work to inform the public,” said Murugu.
Murugu has also appealed to the journalists covering the demos to ensure that they are properly identified. The County Commissioner said that this will help the law enforcement officers to distinguish them from the protestors and criminal elements who may disguise themselves as scribes.
“There is a need to have proper identification by wearing the vest and displaying your tags. It is also the duty of the media team to ensure that the security team is appraised with the journalists on the ground because some criminals may disguise themselves as journalists and commit a crime during the protests,” noted the County Commissioner.
The administrator was speaking in his office when he hosted members of the fourth estate working in Nyeri for a courtesy call. The meeting was also attended by members of the County Security Committee who reassured the scribes of a cordial working relationship.
Murugu has at the same time said that investigations to establish the faces behind the violent spate of anti-government protests in Karatina town are ongoing. According to the commissioner, the demonstrations which left seven people nursing gunshot wounds last week, are politically instigated.
He said that the authorities have so far established that the main motive is to loot and destroy property, and to taint the name of the county. “Normal Gen Z’s protests have timelines; they follow a certain pattern and they are peaceful. However, the protests in Karatina were not normal because their aim was to loot businesses,” stated Murugu.
“We are zeroing down on those who are suspected to be financiers and the bottom line will be the arrest of those involved. After the investigations are complete we will be able to know the ring leader so that action can be taken,” he added.