Do not blame victims

What you need to know:

  • Matiang’i’s apparent attempt to blame the victims is unacceptable.
  • The government must not prescribe to the media how to do their work and any transgressions against them must never be condoned.

Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s assurance that the attack on two journalists in Tana River County is being investigated at the highest level is laudable.

However, his apparent attempt to blame the victims is unacceptable.

Particularly disturbing is the minister’s claim that the journalists did not follow procedure and failed to inform the GSU officers about their presence.

Proof of the government’s commitment to getting to the bottom of this matter is the fact that Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet has dispatched a senior officer to the scene.

The journalists were in Tana River to investigate a complaint against the General Service Unit officers manning an Agricultural Development Corporation ranch. It would have been foolhardy of them to warn the officers in advance that they were going to investigate them.

Dr Matiang’i’s advice to journalists to mind their own safety when covering conflicts and his assurance that the government would work with the media to protect reporters are welcome.

However, the government must not prescribe to the media how to do their work and any transgressions against them must never be condoned.