Kenya’s Media Raise Concern Over Plans to Shut Reporting Ahead of Tomorrow’s Azimio Protests

Stakeholders of Kenya’s media group have alleged of a plot by the Kenya Kwanza government to shut down broadcasting stations ahead of Monday, April 3 protests by the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance coalition.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) president Churchill Otieno alleged that there are plans to gag the media and internet services and plunge the nation into “information darkness”.

Otieno advised that the alleged move will plunge the nation into murky waters.

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“We have received reports of plans to shut down the broadcast media and the internet and throw the country into information darkness ahead of tomorrow’s demonstrations. “This will be most ill-advised assault on Kenyan democracy because it denies the public their right to information,” said Mr. Otieno.

The KEG boss went on to argue that the media has been given a constitutional mandate to inform the public and trying to bar the media from administering their role will be breaching the law.

He further alleged that there are intentional attempts to attack media personnel covering the protests and more are being targeted in the unforeseen future.

“However we note with concern the wave of attacks both online and offline meted against media workers in their line of duty,” he said stating that over 20 attack cases have already been reported since the demonstrations began.

“While the safety of journalists should be guaranteed the Kenya media sector working group notes with alarm the increasing number of journalists targeted by law enforcement officers.”

He, therefore, condemned the attacks calling on investigative bodies to launch a probe into the matter and apprehend the offenders.

“We demand that the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Inspector General of the Police and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority to ensure accountability for all threats and violence against journalists through thorough, effective and independent investigations,” he added.

“We call upon them to call to book the perpetrators while ensuring access to effective remedies and compensations to the victims.”

The Kenya Media Sector Working Group comprises of journalists and stakeholders from 17 bodies representing scribes in Print, Broadcast and Digital media in Kenya.