Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) has taken the war to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) following attacks and threats on journalists during party leader Raila Odinga’s western tour.
In a statement by KUJ Secretary General Erick Oduor, the union took issue with ODM chairman John Mbadi’s threats against Standard journalists.
Oduor noted that the Orange party prides itself as the agent of change and a defender of democracy, but appears to have now borrowed a leaf from the ruling coalition to belittle the media as a profession of riff-ruffs and their final product – the newspaper – as only good for “wrapping in meat”.
“The derogatory “meat wrapper” remarks were coined by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto, who have obviously set a bad precedent that now exposes journalists to physical assaults, intimidation and harassment as the country prepares for the next General Election,” he added.
Oduor said KUJ views this as a fatalistic connivance by the political class to cover up or colour the truth.
“It is the union’s position that journalists apply the force of reason to overcome political barbarism demonstrated by the thankless power barons – whether in government or opposition. We will restrict ourselves to the straight and the narrow: the unvarnished truth,” he said.
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He said ODM must take responsibility for the injuries and loss of personal property suffered by K24 cameraman Moses Masinde, who is nursing injuries after the party’s goons unleashed terror on him at a political rally in Budalang’i, Busia, on Wednesday, adding the camera destroyed by ODM goons is Mr Masinde’s family’s only source of livelihood.
“The degree of intolerance and barbarism demonstrated by ODM caps a period of two months during which journalists have been subjected to mistreatment by political parties that profess accountability and transparency only in name,” he said.
KUJ expressed concern that the attack on Mr Masinde was followed up by more threats to the media by Mbadi, who took it out on Standard journalists Grace Wekesa and John Mondoh during a political rally at Malaba in Busia County.
Mr Mbadi claimed the reporters’ dispatches were false but according to KUJ, they properly captured the violent confrontations between ODM factions during the rally at Port Victoria.
Oduor expressed concern that law enforcers, perhaps taking after the politicians, have equally subjected journalists to extreme mistreatment and physical assault. “We note with dismay that Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet has been reluctant to crack down on errant police officers, who relish harassing and intimidating journalists,” he said.
Exposing journalists to danger
Last year, GSU officers attacked journalists in Tana River County and up to date no action has been taken despite KUJ petitioning him to act, he said.
“We are yet to know the circumstances under which former Eldoret-based John Kituyi was assassinated. Although everything there were pointers that murder was executed at behest of an individual or individuals higher up in government, the police have not lived up to the promise of “leaving no stone unturned” until Kituyi’s killers are brought to book. Kenya has been is among the top 20 deadliest countries in the world for journalists to work as a result of such actions,” the statement added.
KUJ is now demanding that politicians refrain from making statement that expose journalists to danger during political rallies and also provide security to the members of the Fourth Estate, failing to which journalists will begin boycotting such assignments.
“We are only messengers of the public, not sectarian interests,” Oduor concluded.
