MCK: Police posing as journalists endagers scribes lives

Media Council of Kenya CEO David Omwoyo during Standard Group Women's graduation on March 07, 2023 in Nairobi. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has said that security officers posing as journalists covering protests poses a serious threat to their safety.

In a statement, MCK Chief Executive David Omwoyo said that the cases of security officers camouflaging as journalists in a mission to arrest protesters have been on the rise.

"Impersonation of journalists by the police is a grave unprofessional misconduct on the part of the police and endangers the lives of journalists in the line of duty," he said.

The council believes that such misconduct might create mistrust between the public and the media personnel leading to an attack on journalists in the line of duty.

The statement follows an incident in Mathare where a security officer in plain clothes posing as a journalist and taking photos and videos with his phone, suddenly pounced on one of the demonstrators who was at the forefront grabbing him and handing him over to the his fellow officers in uniform.

The protestor was then escorted to a police vehicle by other officers in uniform.

MCK further appreciated the release of journalists who were arrested earlier in the day while covering protests while condemning the arrests.

"The detaining of journalists was unnecessary, arbitrary and ridiculous. The work of journalists is protected under Articles 33, 34 and 35 of the Constitution, a right that should be respected by all," Omwoyo said.

The statement by MCK came after day one of the anti-government protests in the country against the cost of living.

According to Interior CS Professor Kithure Kindiki, 300 people were arrested for taking part in the protests.