The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has underscored the critical role of effective communication between the media and security personnel to enhance public awareness and balanced reporting.
Speaking at a Media Security Dialogue meeting in Kirinyaga County, MCK Director for Media Training and Development Victor Bwire emphasised the importance of journalists and security personnel building trust in realising shared objectives and appreciating each other’s role in the society.
"Lack of trust is the biggest challenge between the media and security personnel. Through fostering trust, we will be able to enhance the safety of journalists”, he said.
He urged journalists to prioritise nurturing relationships with their sources to facilitate the flow of accurate and reliable information.
“Let’s create relationships based on mutual respect and understanding as this will help us negate some of the challenges concerning access to information”, he noted.
MCK Manager for Press Freedom Safety and Advocacy Dinnah Ondari reiterated the crucial role of journalists in accessing information to effectively perform their duties.
She cited the lack of awareness on the Access to Information law amongst journalists as a major challenge that hinders them from obtaining the necessary information for their work.
"It is important to understand the law to carry out professional duties effectively. If you encounter a situation where you are denied information from a public office, report the incident to the Council or the Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ) who will compel the office to provide the required information", expressed Ms Ondari.
Kirinyaga County Commissioner Hussein Alasow urged journalists to respect the mandate of the National Police Service (NPS) while exercising their right to access information.
"When the media aims to report on everything, conflict may arise because there are instances where police officers are restricted from providing information, particularly those of national interest", he cautioned.