Media organizations call for protection of journalists ahead of polls

Media organizations and rights groups in the country are now calling attention to attacks directed at journalists amid heated political campaigns.

With elections fast approaching, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), and Amnesty International Kenya are expressing concern that violent behavior is being directed at members of the Fourth Estate making their work environment unsafe and bumpy.

They are particularly concerned that violence against journalists goes unpunished. Despite complaints, they charge that authorities fail to act on them as most of the times investigations into such incidents fail to take place.

Director of Media Training and Development at the Media Council of Kenya Victior Bwire, noted that some journalists have been profiled and physically assaulted by persons who are known, and yet no action has been taken against the perpetrators.

Kenya Union of Journalists Secretary General, Eric Oduor claimed that certain political players in the country have resorted to campaigns aimed at discrediting journalists, particularly through social media.

According to Oduor, the culprits are “spending heavily” in a bid to malign those who don’t dance to their tune.

“We are telling the DCI and ODPP that politicians or their allies attacking journalists can be prosecuted and be barred from contesting,” The Secretary-General of the Kenya Union of Journalists Eric Oduor added.

He said KUJ is countering this smear campaign through a fact-checking mechanism established by the union so as to not only flag false accusations against journalists but also insulate the public from being misinformed.

Bwire on his part wants media houses to take a leading role in ensuring the safety of their journalists.

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