The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has asked the police to hasten investigations into an incident in which a Nation Media journalist was attacked by unknown people believed to be supporters of Suna East MP Junet Mohamed.
Ian Byron was attacked on Sunday, July 10, at Kakrao shopping center in Migori County by a machete-wielding gang.
His attack happened a few days after he had reported harassment threats from people he said were working for ODM Minority Leader Junet Mohamed who is unhappy with Byron’s hard-hitting articles.
“The Council urges the police to investigate the Sunday, July 10, incident reported at Migori Police Station with a view to prosecuting the assailants,” said MCK Chief Executive Officer and Secretary to the Council David Omwoyo.
The Council further noted with concern the rising cases of assault targeting journalists and media enterprises from politicians ahead of the August 9, General Election.
This comes barely months after Moses Nyamori of Standard Digital and Luke Awich of the Star newspaper were reportedly attacked at the precincts of the Chungwa house over alleged stories they carried in their respective publications.
The duo was in March 2022 ejected out of Chungwa House by well-built men under the command of Chungwa House head of security Benard Kadundo.
In a statement to Newsrooms on Tuesday, July 12, Media Council of Kenya boss David Omwoyo asked politicians dissatisfied with any journalistic work to follow the right procedure and file complaints with relevant bodies
“The Council calls upon any party aggrieved by the work of journalists to direct the complaints to the Media Complaints Commission,” he said.
In February 2022, the Media Council of Kenya established a team that will spearhead the safety of journalists ahead of the hotly-anticipated August 9, General Election.
