Calls for regional cooperation to end impunity for crime and attacks on Journalists
By Dickson Odhiambo.
November 2, 2019
Calls for regional
cooperation to end impunity for crime and attacks on Journalists
The Kenya Media
Sector Working Group has called for a regional approach to
help in ending impunity for crime and attacks against Journalists within the
East African Region.
The Group and Kenyan National Assembly leadership has today organized
IN Kisumu the first ever international seminar to commemorate known as International
Day to End Impunity for Crime and Attacks Against Journalists {IDEI} 2019.
The event titled
Strengthening the Regional Cooperation to End Impunity for Crimes and Attacks
against Journalists in East Africa, brought together media regulators from
Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania; legislators from Uganda and Kenya,
journalists’ organizations, journalists’ trainers and editors.
“Public spirited
journalism in the region is coming under intense pressure as colleagues have
been forced to self-censure for fear of reprisals. Investigative journalism is
the most affected. We need to join hands to unequivocally condemn any attacks
on journalists,” said, Churchill Otieno, the President, Kenya Editors
Guild.
He says Journalists across the country should do their work
in line with the Code of Conduct for the practice of Journalists in the
country.
“The best time to fight the impunity against journalists is
when one is attacked and we have to join hands together in doing this,” Otieno
says.
The New Chairman of the Media Council of Kenya Board Maina
Muiruri says the Council has a department dealing with protection of all
accredited journalists across the country, adding the basic rights of journalist
should be met first.
“MCK is aware of the violations journalists are undergoing
and will never them unattended,” Muiruri says.
Marakwet West Member of Parliament who is also the Chairman
of the Parliamentary Committee on ICT William Kisang says there is need to
review the law so as to make the media fraternity more strong.
He says training of journalists should be ever there so as
to help in enhancing their capacity, adding that Journalists especially those
at the grass root level should be well enumerated to enable them do their
duties effectively.
Suba South Member of Parliament and the Leader of Minority
Party at the National Assembly John Mbadi says there is need to realize that
some legislations are still hindering press freedom in the country.
He says that media needs self-regulation, adding that some
punitive laws which has been in place should be re-looked at for review.
He urges the media to interrogate matters with a lot of
objectivity.
Chairman Kenya Correspondents Association Oloo Janak says there is need for a regional approach to say no to impunity for crimes and attacks against Journalist within the region.
A member of the Kenya
Editors Guild Jane Godia says women journalists face unique forms of attacks
ostensibly because of their gender.
She says media organizations with the support of owners and
senior managers have a duty to protect women journalists by developing clear
gender mainstreaming strategies informed by comprehensive active gender policies.
David Omwoyo, the
Chief Executive Officer of Media Council of Kenya said while the IDEI was
started focusing on two foreign journalists killed in Mali, local journalists,
men and women continue to bear the brunt of impunity.
“The killing of Francis Nyaruri (2009) and John Kituyi (30th
April 2015) among others in the country are symptomatic of the challenge we
face as the media fraternity,” Omwoyo says.
The seminar comes in the wake of increased attacks and
threats on journalists and a reigning legacy of impunity in Kenya, Uganda and
Tanzania. So far Kenya has recorded 50 cases of attacks against journalists in
the last one year. Impunity remains high as only two incidents have been
investigated and violators prosecuted.
Tanzania recorded 16
incidents of harassment and intimidation. They had six arrests. Impunity level
is very high. No investigation has been instituted into the attacks. Most
arrests and attacks in Tanzania are by state security agencies. The arrest of
Eric Kabendera and his continued incarceration and the enforced disappearance
of Azory Agwanda is emblematic.
ENDS:
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