LSK condemns attack on journalists, lays blame on IG Koome

MCK chief executive officer David Omwoyo said in a statement on Twitter that most of those targeted were photographers and camerapersons.

Piece by: EMMANUEL WANJALA
News

• The Council will institute legal action against the National Police Service.

• At least six journalists were injured during the attack at Kware in Pipeline, Embakasi South. 

Protestors access KICC ahead of Azimio demonstrations on March 20, 2023
Image: EZEKIEL AMINGA

The Law Society of Kenya has joined the growing list of entities that have condemned the police brutality that was meted on journalists as they covered Azimio demonstrations on Thursday.

President Eric Theuri termed the incident as "barbaric, repulsive and retrogressive" saying Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome should take the blame.

"It's obvious media spotlight is preventing the police from using brutal force on protesters, hence intimidation of media. IG police should take responsibility. He has failed in his responsibility," Theuri said.

The Media Council of Kenya, the sector regulator, said at least six journalists were injured during the attack at Kware in Pipeline, Embakasi South. 

MCK chief executive officer David Omwoyo said in a statement on Twitter that most of those targeted were photographers and camerapersons.

In a video that has since gone viral, a plainclothes officer is seen breaking the window of a media vehicle before lobbing a teargas canister in the car.

Omwoyo termed the incidents as acts of hooliganism and criminality whose interest is to destroy any evidence of police acts captured on camera.

MCK Director for Media Training and Development Victor Bwire told the BBC in a radio interview that the Council will institute legal action against the National Police Service.

"This was not coincidental, they were deliberate acts of assault by officers against journalists who were doing their job," Bwire said.

Police were yet to comment on the incident by Friday morning.

Omwoyo said that so far, the Council has documented 25 cases of police harassments, attacks and arrests against local and international journalists since the onset of the mass protests on March 20.

He said 20 of the cases were documented on the second Monday of the mass demonstrations on March 27.

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