Outrage greeted the shooting of Kameme TV journalist Catherine Wanjeri by a trigger-happy police officer during Tuesday’s anti-government protests in Nakuru county.

Journalists in Nakuru and Kiambu counties held peaceful demonstrations yesterday to demand the arrest of the officer behind the shooting even as media stakeholders condemned the incident. 

The protests came as Wanjeri recuperated at the Nakuru Annex Hospital where she was referred to from Valley Hospital following the shooting.

She suffered three gun shot injuries with doctors terming her condition as stable following an operation on Tuesday night.

The incident attracted condemnation from a cross section of media stakeholders including Mediamax, the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), Media Council of Kenya (MCK) and Kenya Editors Guild (KEG).

Mediamax Network Limited termed the incident reprehensible and demanded swift action against the perpetrator.

“Despite wearing identifiable press gear, Catherine was targeted and shot three times by the police officers while covering nationwide protests by youth,” said Ken Ngaruiya Group CEO Mediamax in a statement. “We consider this police brutality against journalists who were covering the protests a brazen assault on media freedom and an attempt to deny Kenyan citizens access to information.”

“Such barbaric acts have no place in a democratic society like Kenya, where journalists are required to play the role of watchdog and source of credible information to citizens,” added Erick Oduor, the KUJ Secretary General.

Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) condemned what it termed a disturbing pattern where security officers targeted journalists covering the protests.

MCK on its part commended Wanjeri’s colleagues for taking swift action to save her life and wished her a quick recovery and their affirmed support. “To bring an end to this impunity, we call on the Independent Policy Oversight Authority (IPOA) to conclude investigations and bring the police terrorising journalists to justice,” said  MCK chief executive David Omwoyo. 

Yesterday, the Nakuru based journalists marched from Railways Police Station to Nakuru Central Police Station while displaying placards, condemning the shooting by the police.

Nakuru journalist

Through the Nakuru Journalists Association (NJA), the journalists confronted Nakuru County Police Commander Samuel Ndanyi after they were allowed entry to the police compound.

They made it clear to Ndanyi that they will camp outside his office until Wanjeri gets justice and the rogue police officer is arrested and prosecuted.

NJA chair Joseph Openda, submitted a petition to Ndanyi on behalf of the over 60 journalists, bloggers and freelancers. “We demand the immediate arrest and prosecution of the officer involved. He should be held accountable to ensure justice for Wanjeri and set a precedent that such conduct by law enforcement personnel will not be tolerated,” reads the petition. 

The association also wants the journalists to be assure of their safety while performing their duties of informing the public and holding the authorities accountable. “Journalists should be able to conduct their work without fear of harassment or intimidation. We need clear guidelines and training for police officers on how to engage with journalists,” reads the petition.

The association demanded that Ndanyi informs all officers the importance of respecting the rights of journalists during protest. Ndanyi said that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has taken over the investigation. Anti- riot police shot Wanjeri three times on Tuesday as she covered the Generation Z protest along Kenyatta Avenue in Nakuru City.

Shooting incident

According to Ndanyi, the police oversight team was seized of the matter. “I apologise for the shooting incident. It was unfortunate. Personally, I know Wanjeri, and her case is being investigated by IPOA,” said Ndanyi. He called on journalists who were in the company of Wanjeri to come forward and record statements with IPOA.