Over the past year, more than 50 cases were reported of journalists assaulted, threatened and humiliated by resentful elements, mainly politicians incensed by media reports about them. This is petrifying and presents a new dimension to the threat against media freedoms. Whereas the media and the public expect stern action against those harassing and intimidating journalists, nothing is ever done. Institutions exist, such as the Complaints Commission under the Media Council of Kenya, whose mandate is to arbitrate between journalists and news sources when a dispute occurs over reportage. But individuals should not take the law into their hands to terrorise journalists ostensibly to stop them from doing their work.

Source: Daily Nation January 10, 2020 18:45 UTC