Authorities abuse journalists for reporting sensitive topics: HRW

Authorities abuse journalists for reporting sensitive topics: HRW

Journalists and bloggers reporting on sensitive issues including on corruption, disputed land acquisition, counter-terrorism operations and the 2007-2008 post-election violence have faced a range of abuses from Kenyan authorities, Human Rights Watch and ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa said in a report released on Tuesday.

The report, “‘Not Worth The Risk’: Threats To Free Expression Ahead of Kenya’s 2017 Elections,” documented abuses by government officials, police, county governors, and other government officials against the media.

“At least two died under circumstances that may have been related to their work. We documented 16 incidents of direct death threats against journalists and bloggers across the country in recent years, and cases in which police arbitrarily arrested, detained, and later released without charge at least 14 journalists and bloggers,” the report revealed.

The rights organizations said police have rarely investigated the attacks despite receiving formal complaints from journalists, warning that this threatens freedom of expression ahead of the August 8th General Election.

“For Kenya’s August elections to be credible and fair, the media needs to be able to report on pressing issues of national interest without fear of reprisals,” said Otsieno Namwaya, Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch.

“President Kenyatta should publicly underscore the importance of free expression and condemn threats and attacks on journalists and bloggers.”

Human Rights Watch and ARTICLE 19 examined government attempts to obstruct critical journalists and bloggers with legal, administrative, and informal measures, including threats, intimidation, harassment, online and phone surveillance, and in some cases, physical assaults.

“We must stem the tide of increased violence and impunity against journalists in Kenya,” said Henry Maina, regional director at ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa.

“No policy to address the situation can be successful if measures to prevent aggression against and to protect at-risk journalists are not accompanied with thorough and timely prosecutions of all crimes committed against them.”

While Kenyan journalists have borne the brunt of government abuse, the foreign media have also faced reprisals for critical reporting. In 2015, Kenyan authorities threatened to ban two foreign journalists for an international media outlet for reporting on alleged police death squads implicated in extrajudicial killings.

 

 

Tags:

Media freedom Journalists freedom of expression Human Rights Watch bloggers General Election ARTICLE 19

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