Kenya Correspondents Association rubbishes Kimaiyo’s threat on journalists

By Eunice Kavutha

Media associations in the country continue to express their dissatisfaction with the recent move by Inspector General David Kimaiyo to summon KTN investigative journalists John-Allan Namu and Mohammed Ali.

The summon follows their story aired on KTN on the Westgate Mall looting by army officers.

Kenya Correspondents Association Friday termed the action as an attempt to deflect attention from the credibility issues facing the security forces over their handling of the mall terror attack.

“The journalists have done their duty to the nation and the world, by providing information about what happened and the police should stop any attempt to intimidate them through summons or calls for their arrest under whatever pretext,” said KCA Chairman William Oloo Janak.

On 21 September 2013, unidentified gunmen attacked the upscale Westgate Mall in Nairobi. The attack, which lasted until 24 September, resulted in at least 72 deaths, including 61 civilians, 6 Kenyan soldiers.

Kimaiyo threatened the journalists with arrest after they reported on looting and disarray among security forces during the rescue mission.