World Press Freedom Day: Experts fault increasing attacks on journalists in Kenya

NAIROBI: Media experts have faulted increasing attack on journalists, summoning of editors and retrogressive laws in Kenya as the World marks World Press Freedom Day.

Global media monitoring bodies Article 19, Freedom House, Irex, Committee to Protect Journalists and Mo Ibrahim Index now rank Kenya as partially free despite a vibrant private media.

Information Secretary Ezekiel Mutua representing Cabinet Secretary for ICT Dr Fred Matiang'i condemned incidents in which journalists were attacked by police and politicians as unwarranted.

Article 19 Kenya director Henry Maina warned that laws that allow interception of information, publication of false news, criminal defamation, Official Secrets Act and Security Laws amendment Act contain provisions that are dangerous to the practice of journalism.

 "We need to be watchful on legislations targeting media to deny them Freedom. In just two weeks two editors from Nation Media Group have been summoned by police over a case where the complainant is not clear while four journalists are nursing serious injuries sustained in the course of duty," Maina said.

Media Council of Kenya Official Victor Bwire decried a weak regulatory framework with laws that need to be harmonised.

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Bwire condemned rising incidents in which journalists were subjected to harassment and their equipment damaged.

Mr Mutua asked for continuous dialogue to resolve challenges facing the media industry.

Experts called for crafting of a media policy that is in tandem with current needs of consumers.

Journalists demanded the publication of Access to Information Bill to make Kenyans hold Government accountable.