Members of the media industry are considering legal action against the Inspector General of Police following incidents of police brutality against journalists during the anti-Finance bill protests.
Organized by the Kenya Media Sector Working Group (KMSWG), media practitioners have reported numerous instances of journalists being specifically targeted and attacked by police throughout the three-week-long protests.
“We are still compiling the list of journalists who were injured. Remember we did say a while back that we are going to sue the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome over intimidation and police brutality on journalists. So far, we have received a few cases which we will compile and will be using that to sue the Inspector General of police,” said the Kenya Union of Journalists Secretary General Eric Oduor.
Press freedom
The group accused the government of attempting to suppress press freedom by directly threatening to shut down media organizations. They also warned that they were conducting a comprehensive and independent investigation to ensure accountability for those responsible.
Oduor emphasized that such attempts to restrict access to information constituted a direct violation of Article 34, which safeguards media freedom, and Article 35, which guarantees access to information.
“We condemn the brutal response to peaceful protests that resulted in deaths and injuries of Kenyans and journalists all over the country,” Oduor stated.
Transparent engagement
He underscored the need for a strong and independent media terming it essential for a healthy
democracy and said the group was ready to facilitate genuine and transparent engagement on the key issues put on the table.
“Open dialogue is essential for finding solutions and the media will play a crucial role in fostering this exchange. We are committed to providing accurate, balanced, and responsible reporting that reflects the diverse perspectives within Kenyan society,” he stated.
