Attacks on journalists in Kenya should worry us all

William Janak

NAIROBI: Concerns over the safety and security of journalists continue to increase following reports of attacks and intimidation by different actors. The issue has always come to the fore during political rallies and in the countdown to elections. Less than two weeks ago, two journalists were reportedly roughed up in Western and their equipment damaged. The increasing hostility by political players against the media is unhealthy, both for now and as we move into the heightened political period.

It is clear that, increasingly, journalists are in danger from political players, security agencies and other actors and the situation could worsen as we approach the General Election. Journalists have more often than not said they face serious threats to their safety and security. A disturbing admission by journalists is the extent of their capture by partisan political interests on the ground, who include both current elected leaders and their rivals. A just released study by UNESCO titled: “Supporting Safety and Security of Journalists in Kenya”, an assessment based on the body’s journalists safety indicators, has grim statistics about media practitioners’ safety and security situation. The study, published this year indicates more than 60 journalists, seven of them women, “were assaulted, attacked, harassed and intimidated in the course of their duty” during the study period.