The joint media team set up by the Media Council of Kenya to coordinate the safety and protection of journalists during the 2022 General Election today held its first meeting to deliberate on draft safety protocols for media organisations, media managers and individual journalists.
Under the patronage of the Media Council of Kenya, the team comprising editorial directors, editors-in-chief and heads of content, will collectively develop practical working modalities and protocols to ensure the protection of journalists and media workers in the field during the electioneering period. This initiative is a response to the sharp increase in threats to journalists and media workers during this period.
The team chaired by Nation Media Group's Joe Ageyo is expected to come up with key focus areas and interventions to ensure that media workers are protected during coverage of activities during the electioneering period.
Media Council CEO Mr David Omwoyo underpinned the critical place of safety and protection of journalists as they undertake their rightful duties.
"Our aim is to bring on board decisions makers in media houses because once the draft protocols are adopted, the team members will be responsible for implementation of the same. We will eventually work with other key players especially those at the helm of political party operations to support efforts in ensuring that media workers do not become targets of violence while covering political activities", said Mr Omwoyo.
Chair of the committee Mr Ageyo emphasised that the intervention was critical in the wake of rising cases of violation of journalists’ rights currently as happens during the electioneering period.
"This is a critical intervention that is long overdue, the electioneering period comes with many risks for media workers and we are already seeing attacks of many forms directed at the media”, said Mr Ageyo
“Many of these risks and threats can be avoided and mitigated through coordinated efforts among media players because a threat to one of us is a threat to all”, he noted.