Nyumba Kumi Initiative chairman Joseph Kaguthi has faulted journalists in Thika for reporting the crime incidents in the area incorrectly.
Kaguthi said that the press has been compromised by the politicians, police and other prominent persons in the area thus failing to give the audience balanced reports. This, he says, is making officers more corrupt.
He noted that community policing belongs to journalists as not all people are brave enough to report to the police. He said that journalists get more information from the public but opt not to report to the police or report negatively.
“We have observed Thika keenly and there are some cases that are going unreported or reported differently which is discouraging. We need to adopt this initiative and embrace it,” Kaguthi said.
He added that some of the local radio journalists in the area have been propagating lies to the public. He said such journalists will not be left out when corrupt officers are being dealt with.
The community policing has set grassroots committees, according to Kaguthi, and they are soon going to commence their activities. He added that no one will fund the committees as members are not elected but volunteers.
He was speaking during the closing of a two-day workshop with all the Kenyan radio stations' local reporters at Kari grounds in Thika on Thursday.