The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) will continue safeguarding media freedom by ensuring rights and privileges accorded to journalists are adhered to in the course of their duty.
MCK Director for Media Training and Development Victor Bwire says that journalists played a pivotal role during the recent demonstrations by informing Kenyans on the proceedings, while noting the role played by the law enforcers in providing security.
“During the Mandaamano demonstrations, Kenyans sought information from the media therefore, security agents and civilians should have accorded the journalists due respect and avoid attacking them in the line of duty”, said Mr Bwire during an online sensitisation meeting for videographers and photographers on safety and protection while at work.
“It is evidently clear that journalists found themselves in precarious situations where the security officers and demonstrators viewed them as adversaries in the course of their duties rather than purveyors of public information”, he further noted.
Mr Bwire added that the recent attacks and violence against journalists violated the Kenyan Constitution which provides for the protection of all Kenyans and freedom of expression. He called upon the journalists to strive at adopting safety and protection measures while on such high-risk assignments.
“Camera people are more exposed to specific challenges unlike other journalists while carrying out their duties. Ensure that you conduct advance assessments of a location and if possible, use the law enforcers. Always prepare an emergency action plan in case of a quick evacuation and above all report from a safe location while maintaining a strong situational awareness, bearing in mind that no story is worth dying for”, advised Bwire.
MCK Manager for Press Freedom, Safety and Advocacy Dinnah Ondari pointed out that even though journalists’ duty is to seek the truth in the interest of the public, they are required to be cognisant of the access to information law and bearing in mind its limitations.
“As you carry out your duties you are reminded to familiarise yourselves with the Access to Information Act. Use proper channels to request information from relevant sources including government agencies. This will help to create a conducive working relationship between the media and the State officers and thus eliminate any causes of misunderstanding”, said Ms Ondari.
Ms Ondari acknowledged the importance of media houses in equipping their journalists with protective gear. She implied that the move would aid in protecting the journalists after several incidents in which journalists were targeted during maandamano demonstrations.
“Our concern about the safety of journalists in Kenya is unprecedentedly high. We have seen the press come under attack from the very same people they seek protection from and we therefore ask media houses to equip their journalist with proper gear as they cover such protests”, she added.
The online engagement was attended by fifty videographers and photojournalists from across Kenya who appealed to the Council to continue advocating for media freedom to ensure that their rights and privileges are protected as they perform their duties.