Media owners: These journalists have rights

By Moses Njagih

The Media Owners Association (MOA) has protested to Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere over the harassment of three journalists by police.

The association termed the action taken against the three journalists of The Standard following the publication of a story based on privileged sources an affront to media freedom and a breach of rights enshrined in the Constitution.

In a protest letter to Iteere after a meeting on Tuesday, the media owners, through association Chairman SK Macharia, criticised what they termed as efforts by those in authority to meddle with media operations.

Another case

The association also complained over the harassment of a journalist with The Star by a city politician, saying there was need to protect media freedom as stipulated in the Constitution.

The MOA particularly wondered why the country’s investigative resource was being abused on a matter that had been addressed.

"The Standard newspaper had retracted the story and apologised, which is consistent with best international media practices. The MOA, therefore, sees no reason why the high-level investigative resources of the police are being brought to bear on a matter that has since been addressed," said the association.

MOA said there were attempts by police to have journalists Kipkoech Tanui, David Ohito and Cyrus Ombati reveal their sources.

The association told the police boss there were other forms of recourse for those who feel aggrieved by media reports, including arbitration and administrative solutions.

"This should be done while ensuring that the rights of the affected parties are assured, and more importantly, that their media freedom is protected," said MOA.

The association argued that there were other compelling matters of national interest that police should be deployed to do, instead of harassing journalists and infringing on their constitutional rights.

The Standard journalists were last week summoned to record statements at the CID Headquarters over a story carried in the newspaper over alleged loss of money by one of the Ocampo Six.

The suspect is alleged to have lost the money on a return trip to the country from the International Criminal Court in The Hague where the six had been summoned for their first appearance.