Journalists protest against police brutality during violent nationwide demonstration

31st July 2024
Journalists in Kenya went on protest after several media professionals were targetted during the recent outrage over a proposed tax bill.
Image of a street in Nairobi with a large crowd.
Demonstrators flood the streets in Nairobi, Kenya, the third day of protest against Finance Bill 2024, on June 20, 2024. The Parliament is expected to debate and vote on the controversial Bill. Credit: Simon Libz / Shutterstock.com

IN BRIEF : 

  • Dozens of journalists went down in the street to denounce police brutality against journalists while reporting on the ongoing violent anti-government protest.
  • Media organisations and civil society organisations called on the authorities to respect press freedom in the country after threats against certain news outlets were made.
  • President William Ruto and the Communication Authorities have called on the media to exert caution when covering the protests.

IN FULL:

– By Charlotte Pion

Kenyan journalists have gone on protest against the many attacks against them, as they covered the nationwide outburst that has shaken the country the last five weeks.

Since the start of the demonstrations in opposition to a new tax bill, the Kenyan media have been in the spotlight, as several journalists were assaulted. Among these attacks, the IFJ reported that a journalist from The Standard was rounded up, brutally bundled into a police vehicle and later pushed off the speeding vehicle.

Recently, a local journalist got severely injured by police shots while covering the youth-led protests that turned violent.

This event was decisive for the journalists, who went to protest in the street last week.

Read more: Media Freedom Coalition statement on the safety of journalists and media workers in conflict

In June, during the first month of the protests, the Kenya Media Sector Working Group, a coalition of Kenyan journalists and civil society organisations issued a statement describing the repetitive repression of journalists by the police and the chilling effect it had on media freedom in the country. “Despite multiple constructive stakeholder engagements with security chiefs over the past one year to secure the safety of journalists during such events, Tuesday’s incidents leave no doubt that police violence against journalists is now an in-house policy.”

Additionally, the Kenya Editors’ Guild  stated they repeatedly witnessed the authorities attacking journalists by using dangerous chemicals and proceeding to destroy the equipment of press workers. Many media organisations and civil society organisations have condemned the attacks against journalists in Kenya and called on the authorities to respect press freedom and ensure the safety of journalists: “The violation of the journalists’ rights and freedoms is tantamount to an assault on media freedom, and freedom of expression.”

The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) also got caught up in the violence. IPI claimed that a KBC videographer “was sprayed with water, and his equipment was damaged by the anti-riot police force,” while a KBC report alleged one of their journalists was “roughed up” while attending an opposition party press conference.

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A call to report responsibly

 As the violence of the protests transpired in the press, the Communication Authorities (CA) warned media outlets “from broadcasting information that breaks the country’s communications laws” and to exert caution in their reporting surrounding the protests. President Willam Ruto also spoke out on the matter, calling on the media to “report responsibly”. He stated that “reporting, celebrating and encouraging violence, destruction of property, anarchy and mayhem is irresponsible,” and asked the media to exercise good judgment in their reporting. According to The Star, the President warned news outlets “if the country goes the wrong direction, there will be nothing to report and there will be nowhere to report from,’’.

It was unclear whether these warnings pushed mainstream Kenyan media to reduce their live coverage of the protests.

Rising criticism about some of the government’s actions towards the media, including alleged threats to shut down a private media channel, brough the President to express himself on the situation. He insisted on his commitment to respect media freedom in the country. He stated he had “the machinery to switch them off, I did not switch them off because I am a believer in the rule of law and I am a believer in free media”.

“We pledge to be transparent, accountable and responsible in our operation,” – Agnes Kalekye Nguna, CEO of Kenya Broadcasting Corporation

A media in full transformation

It comes as the national broadcaster also looks to turn around its fortunes. According to the State Media Monitor, “KBC lacks independence from government interference and generally fails to offer impartial coverage mainly because of interference from government officials and politicians.”

However, the new CEO, Agnes Kalekye Nguna, has promised a transformation in the media organisation. “I am sure we will be able to get KBC to where it should be,” she told Nation.

There has been some recent turmoil in leadership positions at KBC, with a previous CEO – acting only in a interim capacity – dismissed in December 2023. Kalekye also comes into the position as Chair of the Media Owners Association.

“We pledge to be transparent, accountable and responsible in our operation,” Kalekye said. “We ask the public to support us, engage with us, and share ideas.”

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