Media Council of Kenya (MCK) on Tuesday released a statement through its Twitter handle following a viral video in which Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was caught on camera assaulting a journalist.
MCK called upon the offices of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to assist in investigating the incidences of journalists being harassed on Tuesday when the governor appeared before the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
In the statement which was signed by MCK Chief Executive David Omwoyo, the council further listed four journalists from various media houses who were allegedly attacked while covering the story at Integrity Center.
"The council calls upon the DCI and ODPP to investigate circumstances surrounding the attacks on Collins Kweyu (SMG), Steve Shitera (Citizen TV), Jeff Angote (NTV) and Joseph Wakhungu (Milele FM), with a view to bringing the culprits to book," MCK's statement read in part.
"The council has also seen a video clip in which the governor Mike Sonko was recorded assaulting Kweyu who was trying to gain access into the EACC premises," the council added.
MCK maintained that media freedom is a right enshrined in the constitution, adding that violating the right is an offence.
"We wish to remind perpetrators of the violence that Press Freedom is a right enshrined in the constitution and any attempt to block journalists from exercising this right amounts to gross violation of the Supreme law," the council noted in the statement.
Here is a copy of the statement which was shared on MCK's Twitter handle.