Lobby wants journalists rights violators punished
Lack of accountability against perpetrators of attacks against journalists remains a major concern in the country, a lobby has warned.
In a statement, ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa Regional Director Mugambi Kiai said 51 cases of attacks against individual journalists were recorded between May last year and April this year.
Though this is a slight drop from the 59 cases recorded between May 2019 and April 2020, the lobby expressed concern that most of the perpetrators are yet to be booked.
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Lack of information
“Based on our research, including interviews with more than 25 journalists in at least 10 counties, lack of accountability against perpetrators is a running theme in relation to most attacks.
Lack of information on the status of their case, or any reports by authorities regarding investigations, after follow up by victims or colleagues to the victims was a major challenge,” he said.
The remarks came as Kenya joined the rest of the World to mark World Press Freedom day.
Kiai said that authorities must ensure all journalists are protected, by carrying out thorough, impartial and credible investigations in all cases of attacks against journalists.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for more action saying the celebrations came at a time when many journalists and media workers are facing censorship, abuse, harassment, detention and even death for doing their jobs.
