STATEMENT TO CONDEMN ATTACK ON NATION MEDIA GROUP JOURNALIST – MR. MUIRURI MWANGI – IN MURANGA COUNTY

The National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders in Kenya condemns the attack on Nation Media Group journalist Mwangi Muiruri by policemen attached to H.E Dorcas Gachagua.

The attack on Mr. Muiruri happened on Thursday, 25 November 2022 while in the line of duty while covering a food distribution exercise presided over by the second lady Dorcas Gachagua.

We are concerned that the attack is an assault and a violation of the rights of those who bear the duty to inform and educate Kenyans. Further, the attack is by an officer of the constitutional office that should guarantee law and order in the service and protection of all Kenyans.

The Defenders Coalition must remind such rogue officers that Article 34 (2) of the CoK 2010 provides that the State shall not interfere with any person engaged in broadcasting, production or circulation of any publication or the dissemination of information by any medium; or penalise any person for any opinion or view or the content of any broadcast or publication.

Police brutality and excesses against journalists is not a new phenomenon. Defenders Coalition has documented various violations in the past including

1. Attack on DW’s East Africa correspondent Mariel Müller while she was covering a protest in Nairobi in 2021.
2. On 24 April 2021, police beat and injured nine journalists in Makumi, Mbeere South, Embu County.  The journalists were covering a story regarding the forceful eviction by police officers of families from a contested land, said to belong to Tana and Athi River Development Authority (TARDA).
3. On January 10, 2020,  Wanjohi Githae of Daily Nationand Brian Obuya of KTN —while on duty covering a breaking news event at the Kilimani Police Station in Nairobi, were assaulted by police officers.
4. On Sunday, January 12, Robert Maina of Inooro TVwas beaten and his equipment confiscated by officers from Njoro Police Station in Nakuru County as he covered student unrest at Egerton University.
5. On Monday, January 13, 2020, Laban Walloga of Daily Nationwas attacked by police officers in Mombasa Town while covering protests against the Standard Gauge Railway.

Defenders Coalition reiterates that for all Kenyans, including journalists, to be truly safe and their rights protected, police must conduct themselves in an accountable, professional, and human rights compliant manner. In the same breadth, any officer who violates the laws that they are sworn to protect must be investigated and prosecuted.

We therefore recommend that

1. The Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the police officer and prosecute violator.
2. The Office of the Inspector General to publicly express zero tolerance for police violence, refer all cases to independent agencies and hold commanding officers directly accountable for their subordinates’ actions.

*ENDS*

The Defenders Coalition is a national organization that works to champion the safety, security, and well-being of human rights defenders by strengthening their capacity to work effectively and to reduce their vulnerability to the risk of persecution by advocating for a favourable legal and policy environment in Kenya.

For more deatails, please contact Obino Nyambane – Communications 0716 200 100 obino@defenderscoalition.org / info@defenderscoalition.org

www.defenderscoalition.org

Download statement here