The Communications Authority of Kenya has pulled a restraint stunt against all media outlets in what they term an imbalanced broadcasting, leading to incitement of violence, hate speech, and propaganda for war in relation to the ongoing anti-government demonstrations.
“However, the right to freedom of expression as well as the freedom and independence of the media do not extend to propaganda for war, incitement for violence, hate speech or advocacy of hatred that constitutes vilification of others or incitement to cause harm or that is based on any ground of discrimination.”
The body claims that a section of licensed media outlets have violated the programming code for broadcasting services in 2024 by disseminating violent and hateful content to spur incitement amid the ongoing anti-government demonstrations.
“Recent protests and ensuing violence, loss of lives, and destruction of property have highlighted instances where licensed media entities have compromised objectivity and balance in the reporting of crime, security operations, and/or crisis situations. The Authority further noted with concern that some media entities aired images of dead and/or seriously wounded people without censuring or blurring out the images.”
During last Tuesday’s nationwide demonstrations, preemptive live rounds were fired on protesters and a journalist working with Kamene radio and TV in Nakuru town by the anti-riot police officers.
The police deployed to enforce security protocols have instead resorted to engaging protesters in running battles and unwarranted shootings, leading to tens of bullet-related deaths since demonstrations began in late June.
A section of government protagonists have also single-handedly wielded their dissatisfaction toward media houses, accusing them of being anti-government and promoting incitement and vilification of high-ranking government officials.
The Media Council of Kenya MCK have therefore come out to condemn the attacks on journalists covering the ongoing demonstrations. David Omwoyo, the MCK CEO termed the recent incident on Media Max Journalist as “Shameful and terrifying.”
“The shooting of Catherine Wanjeri Kariuki, a journalist attached to Kamene TV, while in the company of other journalists and the police is shameful and terrifying,” he said.
