Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) President Zubeida Kananu on Wednesday issued a 7-day strike notice, warning that media practitioners will resort to street protests if action is not taken against the recent attacks on Kenyan journalists during anti-government demonstrations.
Addressing the media following the release of veteran Nation Media Group Editor Macharia Gaitho, Kananu criticized the government for ignoring the safety and security of media practitioners in Kenya.
"We are giving a 7-day notice for the perpetrators to be brought to book. It seems like that is the language the government best understands," she stated.
Kananu insisted that the excessive use of force by police officers on Kenyans is uncalled for and contravenes the Constitution of Kenya, particularly the Bill of Rights.
Kananu further revealed that many journalists have been receiving threats and intimidation to censor their coverage of certain events of public interest.
"Media has the right to cover any event for the interest of the public, provided that this is done within the jurisdiction of the law. We will not be cowed or threatened anymore because that is our right as media practitioners."
She slammed the National Police Service's (NPS) claim that Gaitho's abduction was an arrest and a case of mistaken identity. Earlier, the NPS had issued a statement expressing remorse over the incident.
Gaitho was abducted early Wednesday morning at the Karen Police Station after being trailed from his home in Nairobi. A viral video on social media showed Gaitho being bundled into a private car by uniformed police officers and others in civilian clothing.
Providing clarity on the incident, Gaitho's son explained that his father drove to the police station to take cover after noticing he was being followed.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) reported receiving ten complaints of unlawful arrests, abductions, and disappearances, all in various stages of analysis and investigation.
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Category: News
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