The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) Secretary General Erick Oduor announced that journalists would hold demonstrations on Wednesday, April 5, if any journalist will be attacked during protests on Monday, April 3.
“We are calling on journalists all over the country to come out in large numbers and protest if tomorrow there will be cases of attacks against journalists.
“We will hold the head of police Japhet Koome individually responsible if there will be any attacks on journalists or if any equipment will be destroyed,” Oduor affirmed.
Media stakeholders also revealed an alleged government plan to shut down broadcast media and the internet across the country ahead of the Azimio-led protests on Monday, April 3.
Speaking to the press, Kenya Editors Guild President Churchill Otieno issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to issue a statement on the police attack on journalists on Thursday, March 30.
Furthermore, he stated that there has been an increase in the number of attacks on journalists, both online and offline, and that journalists have been targeted by police officers since the Azimio mass protests began on March 20.
Churchill has warned Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and the Inspector General of Police against profiling journalists.
“This would be most ill-advised and a grievous assault on Kenya’s democracy because it denies the Kenyan public their right to information. Taking this route will sink us all as a country.
“We have documented more than 20 cases of attacks and violations against journalists by law enforcement officers including harassment, arbitrary arrests, and physical attacks,” Churchill stated.
In addition, Patience Nyange, Executive Director of the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK), urged the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to address the nation on the status of the investigation into police brutality against journalists.
She demanded that the government compensate journalists who covered the protests by paying for their medical treatment and replacing damaged equipment.
“Failure to which media houses will consider blocking out the coverage of government events. Journalists must be provided with proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs),” She noted.
