Where else can Kenyan journalists seek justice?

Clobbered, locked up in a police cell, attacked in a political rally, tossed out of a window of a storey building and harassment are familiar unpalatable words that aptly describe the grim situation in which media practitioners find themselves in the new Kenya.

Three journalists are in trouble over a story filed from a Parliamentary Committee proceedings on irregular and un-procedural purchases of security related equipment by the Interior Ministry. John Ngirachu, Nation Editor and two other colleagues, Alphonce Shiundu, Standard and James Mbaka, the Star, are the latest victims of abuses of fundamental rights and freedoms in the hands of the mighty Executive, the Legislature and ruthless law enforcement agents.

Interior Cabinet Secretary, Joseph Nkaissery reiterates that the three journalists are not off the hook until they disclose their source of information on the 3.8 billion shillings spent by his ministry on security related contracts. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has been following clues published by the Auditor General on the purchases.

The loud silence across state organs on the incarceration of journalists and the demand that other colleagues disclose the of information speaks volumes. It is not lost on us that the PAC chair, Engineer Nicholas Gumbo was one of the key supporters of an abortive law to gag the media that seemingly received the support of status quo authors.

Although Ngirachu is free, many questions remain unanswered by the government that of late has been sensitive to criticism from the bonafide opposition and the civil society. One such question is whether it is a taboo to inform the public about malpractices and maladministration.

Is the arrest, detention and intimidation of journalists a conspiracy between the Executive and the Legislature to curtail media freedom? The answer is a loud yes. Parliament and the media have not been the best of friends – hence the enactment of an abortive law to silence whistle blowers.

Before the ink dried on the signature of President Uhuru Kenyatta ‘s decline to assent to the media law, Ngirachu was arrested, detained and forced to reveal the source of published information emanating from the audit queries being verified by the watchdog. Two of his colleagues were not spared the harassment. According to Nkaissery, the journalists are not off the hook until they reveal their source of information.

It is safe to conclude that the Executive and the Legislature are a kindred of a conservative souls and indeed the two state organs would conspire to do anything within their power to insulate themselves from the so called media blame about illicit activities.

It pricks the conscience that the executive sits and watches helplessly as lawmakers preside over the plunder of public funds and diversion of development finances under their care. The administration of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and related allocations intended for electoral units remain questionable. The culprits are the investigators of theft of public funds.

It is the height of irony that the likes of Gumbo shout themselves hoarse about the misuse of funds by Siaya Governor, Cornel Rasanga but fail to interrogate the careless spending by colleagues. Gumbo is a future aspirant for the Siaya gubernatorial seat currently held by Rasanga.

Parliament has been the appropriate platform to settle scores, plot and execute dictatorial tendencies without much ado. History is replete with examples of abuses of privilege that dates back to the one party era when self censorship was the order of the day, betrayal was common and scribes had to carry their own crosses as is the case now.

Where else on earth will Kenyan journalists seek justice when their constitutional rights are in jeopardy or infringed?