Kenyan Government assures Journalists on safety, guarantees freedom of speech.

 Cabinet Secretary in charge of ICT Joe Mucheru{Fourth left} poses for a group photo after the official opening of a two-day conference in Nairobi on National Mechanisms for safety of Journalists in Eastern Africa.He says the Government is fully committed in ensuring safety of Journalists across the country-Photo By Media Council of Kenya.

By Dickson Odhiambo.

November 13, 2017.

Kenyan Government assures Journalists on safety, guarantees freedom of speech.

THE Kenyan Government has reiterated its full commitment in ensuring that safety of Journalists across the country is guaranteed in the line of their duty.

Kenya's Cabinet Secretary in charge of Information, Communication and Technology Joe Mucheru has said the Government is fully committed in ensuring all Journalists across the country are safe.

Speaking during the official opening of a two-day conference in Nairobi on National Mechanisms for safety of Journalists in Eastern Africa, Mucheru said the Government will continue to guarantee safety of Journalists as well as Freedom of Speech to even its citizens.

Mucheru says safety of Journalists is a primary responsibility of the state just as it does to it other citizens across the country, adding that the rule of law is weakened when there is no freedom of the press.

He adds that the Kenya Media Sector is one of the free and Robust in Africa and the Government has greater policies in supporting media in the country.

He says any media violation will be dealt with adding that the media should also do their work in accordance to the law so as to avoid any pitfall.

 “An irresponsible press can be a double aged sword which can bring damage hence the media should carry out their work while observing professionalism and media ethics ,” he says.
 

He adds that the Government will continue to work with all the stakeholders on the issues of national Mechanisms on safety of Journalists is realized.

He adds that the Government is waiting for the recommendations which will be made after the two-days regional conference and his ministry will give it due attention.

The Co-Chair of the Kenya Media Sector Working Group Eric Oduor says there have been increased intimidation, harassment and attacks on Journalists in the country which must be addressed by the state.

Oduor demands that the Government must take appropriate action against those who have been perpetrating intimidation, harassment and attacks on journalists across the country.

Oduor who is also the General Secretary of Kenya Union of Journalists {KUJ} quoted an incident where a security guard assaulted a journalist in Gatanga within Muranga County but the state has taken no action to prosecute the suspect.

Director UNESCO Regional office for Eastern Africa Ann Therese Ndong Jatta says there must be help in freeing the speech.

She says Working with the media can help in improving the peace in different parts of the world

Jatta says this is the first regional conference held in Eastern African and very much vital for the Journalists adding that Safety of Journalists has been a challenge in many parts of the world and eastern Africa has never been an exception.

She adds that there is need by various Governments in Eastern Africa to ensure that Journalists are protected and their safety is guaranteed.

Jatta further says that the issue of weak Journalism Training Institutions and Associations must be addressed, adding that Journalists should be trained continually so as to help sharpening their skills.

She says that UNESCO is very much dedicated to help the various countries in Eastern Africa to put up these mechanisms to ensure national safety for Journalists in their countries, adding Impunity must be ended on Journalists.

“There is need to carry out investigations to cases where Journalists have been intimidated, harassed and attacked in the line of duty,”she says.

She adds that Freedom of speech and the right to information must be protected and those who deliver it altogether.

“As a way forward, I call upon all of you to ensure that coordination mechanisms where all the stakeholders are brought together and this will that safety of Journalists is comprehensively addressed and leave no one behind while trying to promote the three P’s of Protecting, Preventing attacking on Journalists and prosecute the perpetrators,” she adds.

She further says the region must ensure that it develops a comprehensive mechanism on safety of Journalists.

Sweden Ambassador to Kenya Andreas von Uexkull says promotion of safety of Journalists is very vital as there cannot be freedom of expression without this.

He says that an attack to one Journalist is an attack to all Journalists hence promotion of safety is very important too, adding that there is need to end impunity on wanting to silence the freedom of speech.

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