Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned Kenyan police for allegedly targeting journalists covering ongoing anti-government protests. The media watchdog claims that officers have used excessive force, including live and rubber bullets, tear gas, and arbitrary arrests, to intimidate and silence reporters.
Since June, Kenya has been gripped by a wave of demonstrations sparked by economic hardships. These protests have often turned violent, with security forces accused of disproportionate responses. Human rights groups report at least 60 deaths and dozens of disappearances linked to the unrest.
Journalists have been caught in the crossfire, with several injured in recent clashes. Two AFP journalists were among those hurt on Thursday when they were allegedly targeted with tear gas canisters by police.
RSF is particularly alarmed by the lack of accountability for these attacks, citing numerous cases where officers involved in assaults on journalists have not been identified or punished. One such incident involved Kenyan TV reporter Catherine Wanjeri Kariuki, who was shot in the leg despite wearing a press jacket.
“Kenyan police had clearly perpetrated violence against journalists to prevent them from working, and issued threats to keep their blunders under wraps,” said Arnaud Froger, head of RSF’s investigation desk. The organization has called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate these allegations but has yet to see any tangible results.
Despite the accusations, Kenya’s police spokesperson, Resila Onyango, insists on the force’s commitment to collaborating with the media. However, RSF’s ranking of Kenya at 102 out of 180 countries in its World Press Freedom Index paints a different picture.
The ongoing crisis in Kenya has raised concerns about the safety of journalists and the erosion of press freedom in a country once seen as a regional stability anchor.