The Media Council of Kenya has broken it’s silence after the attack on the journalists who were covering the Azimio La Umoja protest.
In a statement, the MCK asked those who attacked Journalists to “stop the attacks.”
It detailed that the March 2023 remains the darkest month for Kenyan media since the clamour for multiparty democracy.
“We have so far documented 25 cases of attacks on local and foreign journalists at the hands of State and non-State actors since the onset of the demonstrations.” MCK statement reads.
On Monday, 27th March 2023, the first day of the demonstrations this week, the Council reportei documented 20 cases of attacks, harassment and arrests.
“Today the number has risen to 25, with some of those affected suffering serious body injuries.”
The most targeted, according to MCK, are camerapersons and photographers who have been targeted by the perpetrators of acts of hooliganism and criminality whose interest is to destroy any evidence of their acts captured on camera.
“Journalists are not contestants in the current political processes and it is unwarranted,gross violation of human rights and impediment to democracy to target them, while knowing they have a duty to inform the public on such matters of public interest”, MCK CEO David Omwoyo stated.
The Council encourages editors and reporters preparing for assignment to prioritise risk assessment while in the field including boarding politicians’ vehicles and wearing appropriate safety gear for protection.
