Journalist’s safety captures day at fete

By Emmanuel Were

KENYA: The cost implication of keeping journalists safe has come into sharp focus across East Africa.

This comes as media houses push to defend and champion public interest, especially through investigative journalism.

Speaking at the World Press Freedom Day held in Nairobi, yesterday, the Standard Group CEO Sam Shollei said protecting lives of journalists has become paramount particularly when covering investigative stories.

“The safety of a journalist is our business and it takes top priority,” said Shollei. 

He added, “I found an institution with a strong investigative journalism team and when we extend the definition of what it means to defend and champion public interest we make investments that seek to flush out impunity and criminality by state and non-state agencies.”

Standard Group has been known for strong investigative journalism with the Jicho Pevu series by Mohammed Ali and John Allan Namu.

Shollei added that with the need to protect the journalists who are keen on investigative journalism, there is need to invest in protecting the journalists, including hiring of additional guards.

 Also, there is the cost of moving journalists around the country to protect their identity and changing their residence.