Media Council decries threats on journalists

By RAWLINGS OTIENO

KENYA: Journalist continue to face threats and harassment from hired goons, intolerant state officials and the business class, Chief Executive of Media Council of Kenya Harun Mwangi has said.

The continued threats and intimidation, Mwangi said amounts to constrained media freedom and freedom of expression that have a serious bearing on human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

“In spite that the freedom of the media has been protected by the Constitution, Journalists continue to face intimidation, threats from organised goons and harassment. This has constrained the media freedom and freedom of expression in the country,” said Mwangi during the official opening of the East African Journalist Convention.

This year’s convention whose theme is ‘Safety, Security and Protection of Journalists in a Self Regulating Context’ coincides with the World Freedom of Press being marked around the world today.

Delegates drawn from 18 countries taking part in the convention are expected to address salient issues and concerns confronting Journalism profession and the Media industry in East Africa.

And in order to address the challenges adequately Mwangi, called on President Uhuru’s government to fast track the four bills affecting the Media industry in order to fully realise freedoms and to create a more vibrant , pluralistic and diverse media.

The Bills pending legislation include Media Bill, Data Protection Bill, Freedom of Expression Bill and Communications Commission of Kenya Bill.

The convention will also interrogate the subject of Media integration in East Africa and will identify and discuss the salient factors in play in the efforts to Africanise media and in creating a seamless media system that will foster the integration of East Africa Community Member states.

Mwangi expressed that they will explore all ideal policies and systems that could allow journalists and Media practitioners to freely report from any corner of the region, access information with ease, feel free and secure and where media enterprise are free to invest without unnecessary red tape.

The Media regulator has also indicate that they will launch a National Baseline Survey on Safety and Protection of Journalists and other Media professionals in Kenya.

The survey will seek a concerted national and professional safety and protection initiatives, interventions and programs to stem the encroachment and danger to freedom of expression and media press freedom in Kenya and East Africa region.

This assurance comes in the wake of death threats received by two investigative journalists shortly after airing a story suggesting foul play in a government official's death, according to news reports and local journalists.

Mohammed Ali and John-Allan Namu, investigative journalists from the private KTN television network received threats from anonymous callers and via social networking sites over the their investigative piece ‘Ghururi ya Saitoti and the Inside story ‘Death in 10 minutes’.

The recommendations from the convention will form fundamental building blocks for the development of an East Africa media protocol which will be an instrument in deepening relationships with regional partners in order to expand the markets, create jobs and boost growth.