By Nyang’au Araka
Various media stakeholders have called for speedy action including arrest and prosecution of police officers who assaulted journalists in Majengo estate of Nairobi on Wednesday.
Some of the targeted journalists were clobbered and their tools of trade tampered with.
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The Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) issued a terse statement Wednesday evening and condemned the incident that had outraged and disturbed Kenyans.
“We demand for the immediate arrest of the officers involved,” the statement signed by KEG President, Zubeida Kananu said.
She also called for the compensation of those journalists who were physically hurt and traumatised even as their equipment got damaged.
Kananu said police should issue an apology immediately to the journalists, the media fraternity and Kenyans at large, with an assurance that security of the messenger will always be guaranteed.
As pressure mounted, the National Police Service (NPS) also said in a statement that the incident was regrettable.
“…we are gravely concerned and strongly condemn such misconduct,” police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said in a statement sent to newsrooms.
Nyaga said the incident was under investigation and “firm and decisive action will be taken against officers found to have engaged in misconduct.”
The affected journalists had gone to cover a demonstration by Majengo residents after a 17 year old boy died under mysterious circumstances.
As they went about their work, police bounced on some of them with batons, kicks and blows.
Those who bore the heavy dose of police rage were NTV camera person, Wambui Kurema and Nation photojournalist, Denis Onsongo.
A police officer was seen walking in boiling anger up to Kurema’s car where she had sought refuge and forcefully deleted footage from her camera.
Nyaga said the police enjoy a cordial relationship with journalists and the force was committed to safeguard and protect media freedom.
However, this seems to contradict actions by the police in various occasions.
Kananu recalled that journalists had it rough during the Gen Z protests last year as police turned their rage on them in various towns.
She said such actions were reversing the gains Kenya has made in expanding media freedom in recent years.
“The continued targeting of journalists is unacceptable,” the KEG official said.
