This archive report was first published on 17 May 2020.
On May 17, 2020, police officers in Embu County arrested three journalists who were covering a demonstration by residents of Makima area protesting against the demarcation of land said to be owned by the Tana and Athi River Development Authority (TARDA).
The journalists, Solomon Mwaniki of Nation Media Group Ltd., Peter Mungai of Royal Media Services Ltd., and Brian Musyoka of County FM, were confronted by police in anti-riot gear who demanded that they erase the video footage they had taken of the protest.
However, the journalists declined and were subsequently arrested but later released with no charges proffered against them.
Media Council of Kenya Chairman Maina Muiruri has condemned the incident, stating that cases of journalists being arrested and harassed by police while in their line of duty have become a worrying trend that is impending execution of their core mandate.
“The police are supposed to facilitate the work of journalists and guarantee their safety and security as they carry out this important function mandated and protected by the Constitution of Kenya under Article 34,” Maina said.
The Media Council has urged the police to respect the rights of journalists as protected in law and to defend and protect lawful actions by the media.
