LSK, KUJ condemn David Kimaiyo's threats on journalists

By Judy Nguta

Nairobi, Kenya:  Two unions have highly criticised the recent threats by the police towards journalists for exposing events behind the Westgate Mall terror attack.

The Law Society of Kenya and the Kenya Union of Journalists have termed the decision to summon KTN’s investigative journalists Mohammed Ali and John Allan Namu as a move to restrain the freedom of the press.

Inspector General of police David Kimaiyo had ordered the investigative journalists to appear for questioning following their expose’ on KTN.

Over 67 people lost their lives during the siege that left the country grappling with insecurity.

“We at the LSK strongly believe that instead of issuing such threats, what we should be seeing are resignations and formulation of an independent commission to probe the Westgate scandal,” said the society’s chairman Eric Mutua.

“We hope it is not a coincidence that the statement has been issued when there is an attempt to further muzzle the media through the recently introduced Media Court (Amendment)Bill and the Kenya Information and Communication Authority Bill,” said Mutua.

In his summon, Kimaiyo said the two journalists lacked patriotism after the story that aired on KTN revealing what took place inside the mall during the rescue mission.

But KUJ rubbished that claim saying: any such arrests would spark alarm not only among journalists but among Kenyans because what our media reported has been reported by international channels.

“While we acknowledge the importance of patriotism, Kimaiyo must know that journalists are being very patriotic in exercising their responsibility to inform Kenyans on this issue that has focussed attention on our country,” said KUJ Secretary General Jared Obuya.