On Wednesday, July 24, journalists demonstrated against police brutality in response to recent attacks on journalists. With vuvuzelas, Kenyan flags, and placards, the journalists marched through the streets of Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD).
There was no interference from the security apparatus as they marched through the city, although an armored police vehicle was observed parked outside the KICC buildings. Some of the placards carried by the journalists read “Don’t shoot the messenger,” while others read “Don’t crush the messenger.”
The peaceful protests attracted media personalities from a variety of local media firms as well as freelancers. The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) claims that it was calling for a free and secure press.
Take part in our nationwide demonstrations on Wednesday for a safe and free press! Let us join forces with journalists who are fighting for the truth and accountability,” KUJ stated on Tuesday.
After a journalist was shot while covering the recent anti-government protests in Nakuru, the protests took place. On Tuesday, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Renson Ingonga, stated that he had instructed the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to conduct an investigation into the incident.
The DPP made the following remark: “I have directed IPOA to investigate the shooting of Catherine Njeri Wariuki, a Kameme FM and TV reporter, which allegedly occurred within Nakuru County on July 16, 2024.”
