The Kenya Union of Journalists (Kuj) has raised the red flag over a new threat to freedom of the press in the Kenyan media industry.
The union said the sacking of at least four senior editors in a span of two months in various newsrooms is an unacceptable trend.
The union said such moves are meant to intimidate journalists who work hard to feed the country with information.
“In a span of two months, at least four senior editors have been kicked out of newsrooms on the grounds of redundancy to please those who pay the piper. We must warn that this unacceptable trend is only meant to intimidate journalists who work hard to feed the country with information,” read part of a statement signed by Kuj members Juma Kwayera and Erick Oduor.
They said that the constitution grants journalists the right to inform and keep the other three arm of government – judiciary, legislature and executive – in check, and that the union will stand to defend the rights without fear of intimidation.
“We are shocked beyond point of comfort by the sacking of senior journalists whose service to this nation will forever be used to mentor young journalists. The Constitution grants us the right to inform and keep the other three arm of government – judiciary, legislature and executive – in check,” they said.
“Last week, Royal Media sent home some its best reporters that built a strong connection with television viewers because of their incisive reporting – again acceding to pressure from some quarters of the government where corruption seems to be the system’s Holy Communion,” they added.