Media Council of Kenya condemns harassment of journalists by politicians
Nyeri MCAs during a scuffle outside the Nyeri County Assembly on August 23, 2016 in which two journalists were allegedly assaulted by some MCAs. The Media Council of Kenya has condemned the incident. PHOTO | GRACE GITAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Nation journalist Grace Gitau and her Standard counterpart Lydia Nyawira were assaulted by MCAs after they realised that they were taking photos.
- Officials of the Nyeri Journalists’ Association Guchu Ndung’u and Martin Munyi condemned the incident.
- In July and August alone, five journalists from across the country have been victims of assault and harassment by politicians and their supporters.
- On Monday, a journalist in Lamu, Ms Jane Wangeshi, was allegedly assaulted and injured by a nominated MCA, Ms Monica Njambi Kirunyu.
The Media Council of Kenya has strongly condemned cases of harassment of journalists by politicians and their supporters.
Chief Executive Officer Dr Haron Mwangi, in a press statement sent to media houses, said such incidents negate the Constitution which guarantees freedom of the media and democracy in general.
“We urge the National Police Service and the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to undertake speedy investigation and prefer charges against perpetrators of such violence against journalists,” said Dr Mwangi.
Dr Mwangi said the growing cases of harassment, intimidation and assault of journalists by politicians and their supporters is a worrying trend especially when the country is heading to the 2017 general elections.
He noted that in July and August alone, five journalists from across the country have been victims of assault and harassment by politicians and their supporters.
The latest incident happened in Nyeri County on Tuesday when Nation journalist Grace Gitau and her Standard counterpart Lydia Nyawira were assaulted by MCAs after they realised that they were taking photos in the assembly
It is alleged that Mukurwe-ini Central MCA Hadson Gicheru strangled Ms Gitau, held her neck, twisted her hands and grabbed her camera demanding that she delete the photos she had taken.
SCREAMED FOR HELP
When the scuffle intensified, Ms Nyawira, her colleague from the Standard whom other MCAs were also allegedly assaulting, started screaming, attracting the attention of the assembly’s sergeant-at-arms.
Officials of the Nyeri Journalists’ Association Guchu Ndung’u and Martin Munyi condemned the incident and threatened to write a protest letter to the county assembly over the assault.
“The incident should be condemned in the strongest terms possible especially now that is comes from an elected leader. Why attack journalists who are merely doing their work of being messengers?” posed Mr Munyi.
The Nyeri MCAs had disagreed on Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua’s Impeachment plan and started exchanging blows.
On Monday, a journalist in Lamu, Ms Jane Wangeshi, was allegedly assaulted and injured by a nominated MCA, Ms Monica Njambi Kirunyu.
Ms Kirunyu is said to have assaulted the journalist accusing her of giving the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) a video evidence to aide in a case where the MCA is facing hate speech charges.
Two other journalist, Mr Moses Masinde of K24, who is based in Busia County, and Ms Shaban Makokha who is based in Kakamega were attacked by a gang of youth during political rallies.
