The Kenya Media Sector Working Group claims to have learned of a plot to shut down broadcast media and internet services ahead of Monday’s anti-government protests.
Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) president Churchill Otieno claimed during a press conference on Sunday that there are plans to stifle the media and internet services, plunging the country into “information darkness.”
Mr. Otieno warned that the alleged move would put the country in jeopardy.
“We have received reports of plans to shut down the broadcast media and the internet and throw the country into information darkness ahead of tomorrow’s demonstrations. “This will be most ill-advised assault on Kenyan democracy because it denies the public their right to information,” said Mr. Otieno.
The KEG boss added that the media has a constitutional mandate to inform the public, and that attempting to block them from doing so would be a violation of the law.
He also claimed that there are deliberate attempts to attack media personnel covering the protests, and that more will be targeted in the near future.
“However we note with concern the wave of attacks both online and offline meted against media workers in their line of duty,” he said stating that over 20 attack cases have already been reported since the demonstrations began.
“While the safety of journalists should be guaranteed the Kenya media sector working group notes with alarm the increasing number of journalists targeted by law enforcement officers.”
As a result, he condemned the attacks and urged investigative bodies to launch an investigation and apprehend the perpetrators.
“We demand that the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Inspector General of the Police and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority to ensure accountability for all threats and violence against journalists through thorough, effective and independent investigations,” he added.
“We call upon them to call to book the perpetrators while ensuring access to effective remedies and compensations to the victims.”
