The Kenya Editors’ Guild has raised concerns over reports of intimidation and threats against journalists especially those from Citizen TV.
KEG, in statement on July 18, said the threats are directed specifically at journalists working for the Royal Media Services (RMS), through fliers that are being shared on social media.
“We take seriously the safety of journalists, specifically during this season of protests where law enforcers have directly targeted scribes at work,” reads the statement in part.
“The Guild would like to condemn the threats being peddled on social media by anonymous individuals, who have also threatened to storm the media house.”
Kenya Editors Guild Speaks on Journalists’ Attacks
The association’s President, Zubeidah Kananu, criticized the continued attacks on journalists being targeted for their work or in the line of duty.
“Of 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,” she said.
“It is not the first time such attacks against media houses or individual journalists by state or non- state actors are being witnessed.”
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Zubeidah said the attacks amount to assault against constitutional guarantees of media freedom, perpetrated by the presumed guardians of law and order.
The Bill of Rights in the Constitution of Kenya is explicit on the entrenched right of the media to operate without hindrance, along with rights to freedom of expression and the right to receive and impart information granted to all in Kenya.
Article 34 (2) makes it clear that the State shall not interfere with any person engaged in broadcasting, production or circulation of any publication or the dissemination of information by any medium; or penalize any person for any opinion or view or the content of any broadcast or publication.
In view of the continued threats that undermine the safety of journalists, Zubeidah demanded that the government offers protection for the media houses and specifically for the media house being targeted.
Communication Authority Bans Media from Covering Protests
CA Director General David Mugonyi, in a letter to newsrooms on Wednesday, July 17, emphasized that while Articles 33(1) and 34(1) of the Constitution of Kenya guarantee freedom of expression and media independence, these rights do not extend to “propaganda for war, incitement to violence, hate speech, or advocacy of hatred.”
According to Mugonyi, a section of licensed media houses compromised objectivity and balance in the reporting of crime, security operations and/or crisis situations.
“Recent protests and ensuing violence, loss of lives and destruction of property have highlighted instances where licensed media entities have compromised objectivity and balance in the reporting of crime, security operations and/or crisis situations. The Authority further noted with concern that some media entities aired images of dead and/or seriously wounded people without censoring or blurring out the images,” he said.
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