- KEG President Zubeidah Kananu called out the officers who orchestrated the incident, demanding an apology from the Inspector General of Police and assurances that journalists will be protected while on assignment.
The Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) has condemned the arrest and
alleged assault of Citizen TV journalist Francis Ode during protests against
high fuel prices in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD) on Tuesday.
In a statement issued in the evening, KEG President Zubeidah
Kananu called out the officers who orchestrated the incident, demanding an
apology from the Inspector General of Police and assurances that journalists
will be protected while on assignment.
Kananu underscored that Ode was covering a public press
conference and peaceful demonstrations when officers intercepted him, despite
his identification as an accredited journalist.
“KEG is deeply appalled by the reported arrest and assault of
Citizen TV journalist Francis Ode by police officers while he was in the line
of duty,” stated Kananu.
“While we acknowledge that Ode has since been released
following immediate pressure and public outcry, the Guild maintains that his
arrest should never have occurred in the first place.”
KEG pointed out that Ode’s release did not resolve concerns
over the circumstances of his arrest and alleged mistreatment, insisting that
the incident required accountability.
“This incident is not an isolated oversight; it represents a
dangerous, continuing trend of law enforcement officers targeting journalists
to suppress public interest stories,” stated Kananu.
The Guild also demanded an official apology from Police IG
Douglas Kanja and assurances that journalists covering matters of public
interest would be protected from harassment and arbitrary detention.
It further called for an end to the profiling of accredited
media workers, warning that such incidents undermine the media's ability to
report on issues affecting the public.
“Journalistic assignments—including the coverage of public
protests—are fully protected under the Constitution of Kenya. Freedom of the
media and the right of the public to be informed are non-negotiable pillars of
our democracy,” said the KEG President.
The incident occurred as demonstrators took to Kimathi Street
to protest rising fuel prices, with Ode reportedly roughed up by plainclothes
officers who allegedly ignored his press identification before detaining him at
the Nairobi Central Police Station.
The Crime Journalists Association of Kenya (CJAK) also
condemned Ode's arrest and alleged assault, calling for an independent
investigation into the grounds for his arrest and his treatment in custody.
CJAK Chairperson Joseph Muraya said the journalist's release
was welcome but stressed that it should not replace accountability for any
wrongdoing.
The association urged the National Police Service (NPS) and
the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to establish what happened
during the arrest and detention and ensure that any officers found to have
violated the law are held accountable.
The two media organisations cited constitutional protections
for journalists, with CJAK referencing Article 34, which guarantees media
freedom and independence, and Article 29(c), which protects every person from
violence from either public or private sources.