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Alerts - Kenya

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Kenya

Journalist in western Kenya faces death threats

Joel Eshikumo said that unidentified callers had threatened him every night for a week, saying they would burn his house down and telling him to be prepared to die over the pictures he had taken in court.

Kenya

Two journalists threatened for their reporting

Both journalists told CPJ that unidentified men had been following them, which had forced them to hide in an undisclosed location.

Kenya

Police assault three journalists, detain one

At least 10 police officers in plainclothes surrounded "Daily Nation" reporter Suleiman Mbatiah, after he took photographs of an undercover traffic operation in Nakuru.

Kenya

WiPC interview with Robert Wanyonyi on witnessing and reporting on crime

Cathal Sheerin of the Writers in Prison Committee of PEN International interviewed the journalist about reporting on an alleged massacre carried out by local police officers and the repercussions of his work.

Kenya

ARTICLE 19 publishes analysis of Freedom of Information Bill

The draft bill is a positive step in the process of guaranteeing the right to access to information, but ARTICLE 19 encourages the government to amend several problematic sections before it is enacted.

Kenya

Journalist threatened for his reporting

Robert Wanyonyi received death threats after he reported on a melee between police and local villagers that left as many as seven people dead.

Kenya

Draft Data Protection Bill critically limited, says ARTICLE 19

ARTICLE 19 calls on the Constitution Implementation Commission to revise the bill to be in line with acceptable international standards on the right to freedom of expression and information.

Kenya

Freedom of expression standards should guide the fight against "counterfeit" mobile phones, says ARTICLE 19

In a country where mobile phones have enabled Kenyans to track the price of commodities, plan farming around the weather, or uncover corruption, a denial of service to as many as 20 per cent of mobile phones in the country would be a disproportionate response to the problem of counterfeit phones, argues ARTICLE 19.

Uganda / Kenya

Charges against human rights defender dropped

Al-Amin Kimathi had been charged with terrorism, as well as murder and attempted murder, and was held in pre-trial detention for nearly a year.

Kenya

CPJ condemns break-in at "Nairobi Law Monthly"

Thieves broke into the magazine's second-story office, attacked two security guards with machetes and stole computers containing critical information for the magazine's October issue.

Kenya

Prison guards shoot camera operator, attack crew

Prison officials attacked three journalists from Nation Television who were covering an escape attempt by six inmates.

Kenya

Hospital staff said to attack journalist

Abdi Hassan Hussein told CPJ he had visited the hospital with three colleagues to investigate complaints from patients.

Kenya / Uganda

Human rights investigator deported

The Clara Gutteridge case fits a trend of silencing critics of counterterrorism abuses, Human Rights Watch said.

Kenya

New media laws must meet international standard, ARTICLE 19 says

ARTICLE 19 launches two legal analyses on two important laws relating to media freedom: The 2010 Media Bill and the 2010 Independent Communications Commission Bill.

Kenya

ARTICLE 19 recommends amendments to "hate speech" laws and proposed constitution

The legal framework regulating hate speech falls short of international standards and raises serious concerns regarding the protection of the right to free expression, ARTICLE 19 said.

Kenya

Proposed constitution welcome but access to information must be implemented, says ARTICLE 19

Unlike the existing constitution, the proposed text contains separate sections for the Right to Freedom of Expression and the Right to Information.

Kenya

ARTICLE 19 recommends changes to new broadcasting regulation

ARTICLE 19 recognises a number of positive features in the regulations and welcomes the fact that the Ministry of Information and Communications adopted some of ARTICLE 19's previous recommendations.

Kenya

Government announces tough new media laws

The new laws have been announced despite an agreement reached with media owners in 2009.

Kenya

ARTICLE 19 analyses freedom of expression regime of Harmonised Draft Constitution

ARTICLE 19 welcomes the efforts to introduce a strong framework for freedom of expression, noting a number of positive aspects while at the same time outlining shortcomings.

Kenya

Communications regulations require significant amendments, says ARTICLE 19

The Kenyan government must substantially revise the regulations so that they meet international standards for freedom of expression and media diversity, says ARTICLE 19.

Kenya

CPJ urges prime minister's intervention in journalist's murder case

Local journalists have said that the murder investigation has now stalled completely.

Kenya

CPJ concerned over police intimidation of "Star" reporters

CPJ is concerned police are attempting to intimidate journalists at a private daily to reveal their sources for a recent article.

Ethiopia / Kenya

IPI calls on governments of Ethiopia and Kenya to stop pressuring broadcaster

Kenya's 'Nation' Media Group tells IPI it will resist government pressure over investigative documentary about Ethiopian rebel fighters.

Kenya

Key witnesses in journalist's murder go into hiding amid death threats

Senior police officers are suspected of having masterminded the killing and are seen as the ones stalling the investigations into the murder.

Kenya

Expand free expression rights in new draft constitution, says ARTICLE 19

The Constitutional Review Process seeks to improve the current Constitution of Kenya which was first developed in 1963, and amended in 1996.

Kenya

Government to dispel repressive clause in media law

The proposed amendments will also get rid of provisions granting the government power to scrutinize and control content broadcast on TV and radio.

Kenya

Civil society adopt the Machakos Declaration on Freedom of Expression

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - ARTICLE 19 Kenya/East Africa organised a ground-breaking forum on freedom of expression in Kenya which brought together representatives from Kenyan civil society including media professionals, academics, human rights defenders, and youth and community representatives in Machakos. The meeting resulted in the adoption of the Machakos Declaration on Freedom of Expression in Kenya.

Kenya

CPJ calls for investigation into journalist Francis Kainda Nyaruri's murder

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 3 March 2009 CPJ letter to the president, H.E. Mwai Kibaki:

Kenya

PEN President Philo Ikonya, PEN member Fwamba N C Fwamba arrested for participating in peaceful protest, assaulted; concern Ikonya was targeted for her outspokenness

(WiPC/IFEX) - The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of International PEN protests the arrest and alleged police assault of Philo Ikonya and Fwamba N C Fwamba, President and member of Kenyan PEN respectively, in Nairobi on 18 February 2009. The writers were reportedly arrested while taking part in a peaceful protest and severely beaten while in police custody. Ikonya and Fwamba, who both required hospital treatment following the attack, have been denied the right to lodge an official complaint against the police officer who assaulted them. The WiPC reminds the Kenyan authorities of its duty to protect its citizens, including their right to freedom of expression, assembly and peaceful protest, as well as freedom from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. It calls on the authorities to conduct a full and impartial investigation into the alleged police assault as a matter of urgency and to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Kenya

Journalist Francis Nyaruri found beheaded following articles exposing police corruption

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 30 January 2009 CPJ press release:

Kenya

President ratifies "reactionary and repressive" media law

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is stunned to learn that President Mwai Kibaki signed the Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill 2008 into law on 2 January 2009. "This is a major step backwards in the history of press freedom in Kenya," Reporters Without Borders said. "We have for weeks been joining Kenyan journalists in denouncing this bill's reactionary and repressive nature. We do not understand President Kibaki's decision, which will seriously undermine civil liberties in his country."

Kenya

Parliament launches vicious attack on media, president urged not to sign proposed media bill into law

(Media Institute/IFEX) - On 16 December 2008, Kenya's Parliament launched a scathing attack on the media and vowed to ensure it is "tamed." One member after another tore into the media, apparently angered by the all-out campaign against a controversial Bill recently passed by Parliament that seeks to give the government power to control media content. The onslaught was started by Bura MP Danson Mungatana who rose to complain about being labelled as Enemy No.1 of the media for supporting the Bill that seeks to control the content, manner and scheduling of radio and TV programmes.

Kenya

Journalists arrested for protesting against new Communications Act

(Media Institute/IFEX) - Kenyan police arrested several journalists and a large number of civil society activists on 12 December 2008 as they broke up a protest against the passage of the Communications Act, which allows the government to interfere with the independence of the media.

Kenya

Government enacts draconian law to regulate media content, gives authorities broad powers of surveillance

(Media Institute/IFEX) - The media in Kenya was stunned as Kenya's Parliament defiantly enacted a draconian law on 10 December 2008 that will empower the Minister for Internal Security to take over media houses and confiscate equipment on grounds of state security. The president has two weeks within which he can decline to sign the law and can send it back to parliament with his reasons. If he does nothing then the law is automatically passed.

Kenya

Government proposes draconian law for regulating media content, says Media Institute

(Media Institute/IFEX) - A new law that, if passed, will allow the Kenyan government to determine the content, style, manner and schedule of broadcasting, has drawn fierce resistance from the media industry.

Kenya

Ex-journalist facing charges for "spreading false information", detained for six days

(RSF/IFEX) - Andrew Mwangura, an ex-journalist and East Africa coordinator of the Seafarers Assistance Programme (SAP), is facing charges for "spreading false information" after he contradicted the official version put out by the Kenyan government about the destination of Ukrainian cargo ship, the "Faina", seized by pirates off the Somali coast on 25 September 2008 as it was heading for the Kenyan port of Mombasa.

Kenya

Despite arrest of suspect in photojournalist's murder, questions about the killing remain unanswered

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 26 June 2008 CPJ press release:

Kenya

Photojournalist covering land dispute murdered, motive uncertain

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 29 May 2008 CPJ press release:

Kenya

Three journalists mistreated by soldiers operating against militia in Mount Elgon region

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the Kenyan army's abuse of authority and physical mistreatment of journalists trying to cover a military sweep against a civilian militia in the western Mount Elgon region, and calls on the civilian authorities to ensure that the rights of the media are respected.

Kenya

Due to fear, media "low-key, even timid" in their reporting on political crisis, says fact-finding mission report

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) -The following is a 4 March 2008 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Kenya

Government lifts ban on live broadcasting, cautions foreign correspondents against "inflammatory" reporting

(Media Institute/IFEX) - On 4 February 2008, the Kenya government unconditionally lifted the month-long ban imposed on live broadcasting.

Kenya

Two journalists shot while covering riots, another assaulted and her camera taken, several others threatened with death

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 1 February 2008 IFJ media release:

Kenya

Journalists, media houses subject to death threats; government threatens to investigate media; media organisations file lawsuit over government's broadcasting ban

(Media Institute/IFEX) - On 29 January 2008, Media Institute and Kenya Editors Guild filed a lawsuit against the government in the country's High Court to quash a broadcasting ban, which has been in effect since 30 December 2007.

Kenya

Government imposes news blackout

(RSF/IFEX) - Warning the government of the dangers of the ban on live radio and TV news reports, Reporters Without Borders has condemned the climate of fear imposed on the privately-owned media in the wake of Kenya's disputed presidential election following the live radio and TV news reports ban announced on 30 December 2007.

Kenya / Zimbabwe

Human rights commissioner urges legislative reforms to ensure freedom of expression ahead of elections

(MISA/IFEX) - The African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) special reporter on the right to freedom of expression, Commissioner Pansy Tlakula, has urged Kenya and Zimbabwe to uphold the right to freedom of expression and access to information, which she said are prerequisites for free, fair and credible elections. The two countries hold elections in 2008

Kenya

Second restrictive media bill withdrawn for re-drafting

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 23 August 2007 CPJ press release:

Kenya

President rejects media law as threat to press freedom

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders hails President Mwai Kibaki's refusal on 22 August 2007 to sign a media bill into law on the grounds that a last-minute amendment limiting the confidentiality of sources posed a threat to press freedom.

Kenya

CRN and Kenya affiliate voice concern over proposed legislation, creation of Media Council

(CRN/IFEX) - On 6 August 2007, the "Standard" newspaper reported that, four days earlier, the Kenyan Parliament authorised the creation of the Media Council of Kenya, a quasi-governmental organisation to regulate and monitor the media in Kenya. After weeks of debate, Parliament approved the controversial legislation and sent it to the president for signing.

Kenya

NAFEO calls on president to withhold assent to media bill that threatens protection of sources

(MFWA/IFEX) - The Network of African Freedom of Expression Organisations (NAFEO) has expressed its consternation upon learning that the Parliament of Kenya adopted a new press bill which blatantly violates press freedom in this country. This law compels journalists to disclose their sources when sued in court.

Kenya

Controversial press law requiring journalists to reveal sources approved by Parliament, awaits presidential approval

(Media Institute/IFEX) - The media industry in Kenya has been thunderstruck by the surprise enactment of a media law that will require journalists to disclose the identities of their sources in court.

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