Various challenges have stalked the region matching to build a political federation in 2015. PHOTO | FILE
NATION MEDIA GROUP
By PAUL REDFERN, LONDON CORRESPONDENT
Press freedom in East Africa is under threat, according to three international Press freedom watchdogs.
In a series of critiques on the governments of Kenya, Uganda
and Tanzania by Article 19, Reporters without Borders and the Committee
for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) - the three countries have
been accused of a systematic clampdown on the media through intimidation
and new laws.
CPJ says that in Kenya “a combination of legal and
physical harassment makes 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.”
It also condemns the recent closure of Tanzania’s Mawio newspaper and the arrest of journalists.
“We are extremely concerned that Tanzanian news
outlets are facing retaliation for reporting on the political crisis in
Zanzibar,” said CPJ’s Africa programme co-ordinator Sue Valentine.
CPJ points out that the latest developments come just days after the lifting of a year-long ban on the distribution of The East African.
CPJ says it is “concerned that journalists in
Uganda are being prevented from freely covering Parliament” and this
month’s presidential elections. It says it has evidence that journalists
“have also reported being attacked and threatened while covering the
election campaign.”
On its part, 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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