Police promise to protect journalists during election
The National Police Service has promised to protect journalists who will be covering the August 9, general elections.
Speaking to the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) officials led by Victor Bwire, during their visit to the Police Spokesperson Bruno Shioso’s office on Wednesday, Shioso vowed to ensure members of the Fourth Estate are protected during the electioneering period.
The agenda of the meeting was to see a way in which the police will ensure the security of journalists by partnering with MCK where Shioso called on the council to facilitate the accreditation of journalists for easy identification and verification during the election.
Accompanying Bwire was the Director of Media Training and Development together with the Manager - Press Freedom, Safety and Advocacy Dinnah Ondari.
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{Photo : National Police Service Facebook }[/caption]
This comes a month after Media Council of Kenya chairman Maina Muiruri called on the government to protect journalists during the electioneering period.
Muiruri was speaking in Kirinyaga where he stated that journalists’ safety and security in their line of duty must be guaranteed by the State machinery. He asked the members of the fourth estate to report incidences of harassment or intimidation to the council.
Meanwhile, the Media Council has already appointed an inter-media team to coordinate the safety and protection of journalists ahead of the polls.
The team which includes editors and heads of content will be supported by the MCK to develop protocols and practical working modes to ensure that journalists and other media staff are protected during the election period.
During election periods, journalists have been reporting cases of harassment, intimidation and even attacks.
Media Council and other bodies have come openly to condemn such incidences stating that Journalists in Kenya must be permitted to report without fear of violence or hindrance from security forces or anyone else and to ensure that journalists are not harassed with impunity saying that the public has a right to information from a wide variety of sources.
{Photo : National Police Service Facebook }[/caption]
This comes a month after Media Council of Kenya chairman Maina Muiruri called on the government to protect journalists during the electioneering period.
Muiruri was speaking in Kirinyaga where he stated that journalists’ safety and security in their line of duty must be guaranteed by the State machinery. He asked the members of the fourth estate to report incidences of harassment or intimidation to the council.
Meanwhile, the Media Council has already appointed an inter-media team to coordinate the safety and protection of journalists ahead of the polls.
The team which includes editors and heads of content will be supported by the MCK to develop protocols and practical working modes to ensure that journalists and other media staff are protected during the election period.
During election periods, journalists have been reporting cases of harassment, intimidation and even attacks.
Media Council and other bodies have come openly to condemn such incidences stating that Journalists in Kenya must be permitted to report without fear of violence or hindrance from security forces or anyone else and to ensure that journalists are not harassed with impunity saying that the public has a right to information from a wide variety of sources. What's Your Reaction?
