The Media Council of Kenya has condemned the recent attack on three journalists covering a police raid at a suspected chang’aa den in Katine village, Matungulu Sub-County in Machakos County.
MCK CEO David Omwoyo Omwoyo in a statement on Tuesday, termed the incident as a violation of human rights and freedom of speech as he called for the police to bring the perpetrators to book.
“Attacks on journalists not only violate their basic human rights but also undermine the principles of free speech and open discourse that are vital for a healthy society,” stated Omwoyo.
“We urge our law enforcement authorities to take swift and decisive action to investigate and prosecute those responsible for these attacks. Attacks on journalists are crimes that go against the journalists’ rights and privileges protected by law under the Constitution and the Media Council Act, 2013.”
The council reiterated the critical role of journalists as the society’s watchdog and appealed to the public to ensure the media people are protected in their field of work adding that anyone aggrieved by their actions should seek.
“We call on all citizens to respect the essential work that journalists do and to support their right to report the news without fear of harm,” stated MCK.
“Protecting the safety and freedom of journalists is a shared responsibility, and we must all work together to ensure that they can continue to do their vital work without fear of violence or reprisal.”
MCK has called on anyone aggrieved by the Media to avoid taking the law into their own hands
“We encourage anyone aggrieved by the media to report any complaints to the Complaints Commission which is legally mandated to mediate on the same.
The Monday attack, according to the Makueni Union of Journalists (Mujo) saw three journalists namely Boniface Mutisya of Mutongoi TV, Mike Ndunda of Kamba TV and Richard Munyao of Athiani FM roughed up by the chang’aa brewers and their sympathizers.
The three journalists are currently undergoing treatment at the Ruai hospital in Tala.
