Press freedom across the East African region is currently under more threat than before, according to international watchdogs.
In
a series of critiques on the three governments of Kenya, Uganda and
Tanzania by Article 19, Reporters without Borders and the Committee for
the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) — who rank Kenya as the worst in
terms of press freedom — all are accused of a systematic clampdown on
the media through intimidation and new laws.
In Kenya,
the CPJ says “a combination of legal and physical harassment is making
it increasingly difficult for journalists to work freely.”
It
adds that restrictions on the Kenyan media come at a time when public
discourse and transparency “are essential, in light of hefty government
spending on development, high-profile terrorist attacks and the
indictment of the Deputy President by the International Criminal Court.”
In Tanzania the CPJ condemns the recent closure of the Mawio newspaper, effective from January 15, 2016, and arrest of its journalists.
It
says the closure was “especially disappointing, coming only two months
after the election of new president, John Magufuli, stirred expectations
for stronger democracy.”
“We are extremely concerned
that Tanzanian news outlets are facing retaliation for reporting on the
political crisis in Zanzibar,” said CPJ’s Africa Programme Coordinator
Sue Valentine.
“We call on authorities to allow Mawio
to publish freely and to set about changing the country’s outdated
media laws that can be too easily abused to stifle the flow of
information.”
PROFESSIONAL HAZARDS
CPJ says the developments come just days after the lifting of a year-long ban on the distribution of The EastAfrican.
CPJ says the developments come just days after the lifting of a year-long ban on the distribution of The EastAfrican.
In
Uganda, the CPJ says it is “concerned that journalists are being
prevented from freely covering Parliament” and next month’s presidential
elections.
It says it has evidence that journalists
“have also reported being attacked and threatened while covering the
election campaign.”
Article 19 says it is “deeply
alarmed by recent escalation of arrests and prosecutions of online
communicators, including bloggers, in Kenya.”
It adds
that Section 29 of the Information and Communication Act regarding
‘improper use of a licensed telecommunication gadget’ is being
increasingly used by State officials to target those communicating
online.
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