Kimaiyo says he supports free Press
Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo with Interior Secretary Joseph ole Lenku after meeting senior police officers at the CID Training School.He said that he supports press freedom. PHOTO/FILE
What you need to know:
- “There are reports in the media that the IG has threatened to prosecute some journalists. I wish to clarify that those reports are not true and were most likely taken out of context,” he said in statement to newsrooms on Monday.
Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo has moved to mend relations with media, saying, he supports Press freedom.
“There are reports in the media that the IG has threatened to prosecute some journalists. I wish to clarify that those reports are not true and were most likely taken out of context,” he said in statement to newsrooms on Monday.
“Gagging or intimidating the media is not part of my agenda.”
The friction arose after two KTN journalists and the Standard Group CEO were summoned by criminal investigators over the coverage of the Westgate terrorist attack in which 70 people were killed and 240 others injured on September 21. (VIDEO: Police target media over CCTV footage)
Mr Kimaiyo said relations with the media were inseparable and police and journalists need to work together.
Despite his reassurance, the police boss said he was still uncomfortable with the way some aspects were reported.
“Repeated airing of terrorists shooting and killing people is now doing more harm than good. Reminding people of how loved ones were gunned down is not helping. If anything this serves to glorify the work of the terrorists,” he said.
