The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has urged Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja to take action following the harassment of journalists by police while covering demonstrations in the Majengo, Gikomba, and Pumwani areas in Nairobi on Wednesday, March 5.
In a statement on Thursday, March 6, MCK Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo said that police harassed, temporarily detained, and destroyed the equipment of several journalists from the Nation Media Group and Eastleigh Voice during the protests. "Among those affected was Justine Ondieki, a photojournalist with Eastleigh Voice, who was temporarily detained in the General Service Unit (GSU) vehicle stationed near Gikomba for several hours.
He was reportedly rough-handled, resulting in damage to his equipment," he said. "Similarly, NTV journalists Fridah Okachi, Dennis Onsongo, and Leah Wambui Kurema were denied access to the operation zone.
Their cameraperson, who reported being assaulted, had footage forcibly deleted from her camera," he added.
