Forum on journalists' safety opens in Nairobi

President Uhuru Kenyatta speaking to Media Council of Kenya (MCK) delegates and guests from across the world to mark World Press Freedom Day celebrations at Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) on May 2, 2013. 

By EVELYN SITUMA

Media stakeholders in the region have assembled in Nairobi for a two-day convention targeted at addressing the safety, security and protection of journalists.

The convention, hosted by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) under the theme – “Safety, Security and Protection in a self-regulating context: Implication for East Africanisation of the media” is the first forum held in the country to address rising concerns of intimidation, threats and gagging of journalists and media by government, business personalities and private attackers.

In neighbouring Somalia, it is on record that 18 journalists have been killed in the war-ravaged nation since last year.

Local journalists also continue to face intimidation and arrests in the course of their duties.

Among the East African countries, Kenya has done exemplary well in advocating for media freedom through sound legislation backed by the Kenya Constitution, 2010. Tanzania, Somali and Gambia list are some of the countries that have had attacks on journalists.




“The safety of journalists has profound effect on how we deliver information to the public,” said Joseph Odindo, Chairman MCK.

MCK feels existing policy is disjointed and therefore needs to be harmonized alongside the 13 international statutes on press freedom.

Addressing the delegates during the convention, President Uhuru Kenyatta promised to protect media freedom and fight off those that gag the media, constrain media space and violate media freedom.

The media fraternity will on Friday mark the World Press Freedom day. The celebration is held annually on May 3.