A journalist during the forum. [Photo|Osteen Njenga]
The Kenyan media industry has been challenged to report and follow up on stories touching on gender-based violence in the country, which occurred during the electioneering period.Stakeholders in the prevention of GBV felt that the media failed to follow up on the welfare of victims who were harassed either sexually, physically and emotionally during the August 8th and October 26th general elections.Most, they cited, were dismissed immediately after reporting, with no one going further to check on how the victims were fairing on.Egerton Radio journalist Kioko Wa Kivandi challenged the players in the media sector to write stories that brought out GBV as an offense.He challenged users of social media to refrain from stereotypes, which, he claimed, has contributed mainly to degradation and demeaning of women in the society.“It’s unfortunate that the media has painted a picture that it is impossible for a woman to build up a career without the backing of a man. For instance, in politics, they have created the notion that in order to succeed there has to be a man involved. That’s why they carried out the story of the current senator Susan Kihika in one of the local papers, indicating that they had discovered her “Sponsor.” Terms like minji minji created the notion that the woman being referred to was either green or ready for ripening,” he added.They were speaking at a bloggers café at the Nakuru National Library American corner where they challenged the actors to be more sensitive in handling cases of GBV.“I’m appealing to the media to apply the use the code of ethics even in the way they question the victims of GBV especially since we are about to start the 16 days of activism,” said Joseph Ngugi, a blogger.“There is need to further understand how the law dealt with the perpetrator. Often times, the media has failed to bring to the public the consequences of their actions hence creating the notion that some of them went Scott free. This, in turn, has prevented others from coming out and reporting cases of being battered,” said Esther Kimani.According to the Human Rights Watch report, At least 33 people were killed in Nairobi alone, most of them because of action by the police and therefore warranting investigation by either the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, a special commission or by parliament. Twenty-three, including children, appear to have been shot or beaten to death by police. Others were killed by tear gas and pepper spray fired at close range or trampled by fleeing crowds, and two died of trauma from shock. Two others were stoned by mobs.The bloggers café is a monthly event that brings together more than 100 bloggers from Nakuru. It’s an initiative by the Centre for Enhancing democracy and Good Governance (CEDGG)