The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has condemned the police for roughing up and assaulting journalists who covered Miguna Miguna’s return at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Monday.
Speaking to journalists at the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights KNHRC) headquarters in Nairobi on Thursday, MCK Deputy Executive Officer Victor Bwire said that the will take up the matter and institute legal action against individual police officers who roughed up and beat journalists.
He said that journalists covering Miguna’s return on Monday did not break any law to be assaulted by the police.
Bwire said that media freedom and rights must be respected, adding that journalists have become vulnerable to attacks in line of their duty.
“Media freedom is not negotiable and anyone who thinks he or she can assault journalists and walk away with it must now think twice,” he said on Thursday.
Bwire said the council is saddened by the rate at which journalists are being assaulted by police officers.
He asked journalists injured or assaulted at JKIA on Monday to make formal complaints.
Bwire also asked journalists not to fear and continue discharging their duties as members of the fourth estate.On Monday journalists were roughed up by police as they covered Miguna’s return.
Several journalists among them Citizen TV political reporter Stephen Letoo was injured in the scuffle.
On Tuesday, Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli hit out at the police, condemning their attack on the media.
Atwoli asked the police and the government to respect media freedom and provide conducive environment or journalists to work in.