Tough assignment of reporting Westgate Mall siege

By Abigael Sum

KENYA: Journalists have been camping about 300 metres from the besieged Westgate Mall, risking their lives to keep their audiences informed about the unfolding crisis.

They have kept vigil tirelessly day and night since the mall was attacked by terrorists last Saturday.

The going has been tough as on various occasions, they have been forced to run and duck bullets as the confrontation between the terrorists and security agents intensified. When they find time to nap, some find it difficult to sleep as harrowing images keep haunting them.

The Standard reporter Geoffrey Mosoku is aware they have been risking their lives. Mosoku says it’s seeing the survivors and their families that gives him the strength to move on. 

 “It is nothing like we have ever covered before. It has been an emotional roller-coaster. Some have lost their friends and given that the attack is happening on Kenyan soil, the feeling of patriotism come into play,” adds KTN’s Asha Mwilu.

NTV’s Ken Mijungu says covering the hostage crisis has been traumatic adding that despite covering other similar stories one can never get used to reporting on disasters.

“My lowest point was when I saw a body of an old man being pulled out. It is a harrowing experience reporting about gunmen who have curtailed our freedom and held us captive at home,” said Mijungu.

He however notes that there has been a lot of criticism on social media over the coverage of the attack.

“There has been a lot of criticism on social media on how we disseminate information with some choosing to focus on the mistakes we make not knowing the conditions we work under to get information. It is difficult to work in an environment where bullets are flying around,” said Mijungu.

For photojournalists, both foreign and local, it has been difficult to get pictures to tell the story because they have been moved away from the mall for their safety.

Foreign freelance journalist for Barcroft Media, Jennifer Hurta noted that it has been tense and stressful but they have to remain focused to avoid causing general panic because it is contagious especially during this time.

Some of the journalists indicated that the Government has not taken charge of disseminating the information but has been doing it out piecemeal, giving confusing and at times conflicting information.

“Unlike the Sinai disaster, Nakumatt fire, Sachangwan and even the JKIA fire, the Government has been lacklustre in feeding us with information and when they do some times it is conflicting. This is compounded by what appears to be sibling rivalry on Twitter where different security agencies appear to compete in updating information about the operation,” said Mosoku

He adds: “Sometimes the international media has been able to break stories ahead of us perhaps because the local media is a little bit cautious.” “In such situations there is a possibility of rumours flying around but we have to be careful with the information we relay and separate facts from speculation.”