The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has called for immediate investigations into an attack on a Nation Media Group journalist, Ian Byron.
According to a statement dated Tuesday, July 12, the Nation journalist was assaulted by unknown people on Sunday, July 10 at Kakrao shopping center in Migori county.
MCK Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo explained that the attack happened just a few days after Byron file a harassment complaint following a story he had done touching on Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohammed.
“The Council urges the police to investigate the Sunday incident reported at Migori Police Station under OB No. 28/10/7/2022 with a view to prosecuting the assailants.
The Council has noted with concern the rising cases of assaults targeting journalists and media enterprises from politicians in the recent past. The more than 50 incidences and press freedom violations in the form of profiling, denial of access, harassment, and intimidation, both online and offline is a threat to media freedom,” the statement read in part.
Omwoyo asked other affected media practitioners to file reports to enable the law enforcement officer to take action.
“The Council calls upon any party aggrieved by the work of journalists to direct the complaints to the Media Complaints Commission. The safety and security of journalists and media practitioners is a collective responsibility and goes beyond individual media houses and or editors as provided under the UN Action Plan on safety and Impunity Against Journalists,” the statement added.
According to MCK, attacks and insults threaten the media space and even affect journalists’ determination to remain unbiased.
In May, the media regulator has flagged politicians allied to Deputy President William Ruto for clashing with Citizen TV.
The Media Council singled out Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi and his South Mugirango counterpart Silvanos Osoro for intimidating the editorial leadership of Royal Media Services (RMS).
“We particularly take note of the latest verbal attack against Citizen TV by Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi vide a social media post meant to intimidate the editorial discretion of the station. Sudi’s statement comes after similar threats by South Mugirango Member of Parliament Silvanus Osoro who castigated the media outlet for alleged biased reporting,” their statement read in part.
MCK urged political leaders who feel aggrieved to file their complaints through the Media Complaints Commission.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE
