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Players in the media industry have threatened to sue the Inspector General of Police over the police brutality meted out against journalists during the anti-Finance bill protests.

Under the auspices of the Kenya Media Sector Working Group (KMSWG), the media practitioners said they had received complaints about journalists being targeted for attacks by the police during the three-week-long protests.  

 “We are still compiling the list of journalists who were injured. Remember we did say a while back that we are going to sue the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome over intimidation and police brutality on journalists. So far, we have received a few cases which we will compile and will be using that to sue the Inspector General of police,” said the Kenya Union of Journalists Secretary General Eric Oduor.

Press freedom

The group accused the government of seeking to suppress press freedom through direct threats to

Shut down media organisations and warned that it was conducting a thorough and independent investigation to hold those responsible accountable.

Oduor cited attempts to restrict access to information terming it a direct violation of Article 34 which protects media freedom and Article 35 which protects access to information.

“We condemn the brutal response to peaceful protests that resulted in deaths and injuries of Kenyans and journalists all over the country,” Oduor stated.

Transparent engagement

He underscored the need for a strong and independent media terming it essential for a healthy

democracy and said the group was ready to facilitate genuine and transparent engagement on the key issues put on the table.

“Open dialogue is essential for finding solutions and the media will play a crucial role in fostering this exchange. We are committed to providing accurate, balanced, and responsible reporting that

reflects the diverse perspectives within Kenyan society,” he stated.