Kindiki: State committed to clear media advertising pending bills, address police brutality
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki makes his address during the official opening of the seventh Kenya Editors Guild Convention at Sarova Woodlands Hotel in Nakuru on November 29, 2024.
What you need to know:
- Deputy President Kithure Kindiki reiterated the government's commitment to collaborate with the media.
- Prof Kindiki said appropriate channels should be used to address issues between the State and the media
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has assured editors that the government was committed to clear pending bills owed to media organisations, relook into its advertising plans to ensure more equity and hold to account police officers accused of targeting journalists during youth-led anti-tax protests.
The DP reiterated the government's commitment to collaborate with the media and promised to look into some of the challenges that have affected the operations of the industry.
Key among the issues he promised to look into include the clearing of the pending bills and the allocation of the advertisement budgets which have crippled most media companies.
Prof Kindiki also said there would be a push to resolve the impasse on the constitution of a new board for the Media Council of Kenya, which remains the subject of a court case.
Prof Kindiki noted that appropriate channels should be used to address issues between the government and media whenever needed.
He, however, said the problem of pending bills is not specific to media houses but cuts across various aspects.
“We will start a conversation with the government agencies, especially on the issue of pending bills, which has crippled operations of some media outlets. I can confirm that we are doing what we can to clear the portfolio of the pending bills in the media industry to ensure the government does not paralyse the operations of the media companies,” said Prof Kindiki during the official opening of the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) Convention in Nakuru City.
The Deputy President's commitment was in response to calls by the KEG President Zubeida Kananu, who raised a number of concerns relating to journalism and operations of the media, including relationship with the government.
Ms Kananu regretted the increased cases of threats against journalists in Kenya, both online and offline, this year. These include physical attacks, harassment and cyberbullying targeting media professionals.
African Editors Forum President Churchill Otieno said that since robust journalism, among other things, helps recover stolen public resources, a portion of such money should be invested in a fund for investigative reporting.
He also called for reforms in the local competition law to ensure fairnesss in the use of journalistic content by global technology companies, sometimes referred to as Big Tech.
In his address, Prof Kindiki vowed to ensure that police officers accused of assaulting journalists during the anti-tax protests that started in June and continued for weeks will be held criminally liable for the misuse of firearms.
Prof Kindiki -- who was Interior Cabinet Secretary during the time of the protests and has been urged to investigate the death of 60 people and injuries of many -- promised to ensure the officers accused of attacking journalists going about their work would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
The Deputy President said the Kenya Kwanza government respects the freedom of the press and is keen to protect and ensure safety and security of journalists.
“The Constitution allows the use of firearms by police officers to protect 99 per cent of the law-abiding citizens against harm from potentially one per cent who do not want to follow the law. I want to undertake that as the government we will follow through to ensure that full justice is served and establish the person that committed the offence,” said Mr Kindiki, who was accompanied to the event by ICT Cabinet Secretary Margaret Nyambura.
He singled out as unfortunate the July 16 incident where Nakuru based Kameme TV reporter Catherine Wanjeri was shot and injured by police officers while covering the Gen Z protests.
“We endeavour to respect and protect the rights of journalists and uphold the rule of law,” said Prof Kindiki.
The DP said the incidents happened at a time when the Independent Police Oversight Authority, the civilian body which is supposed to carry out such investigations, was undergoing a leadership transition.
However, he noted that the new leadership, if approved by Parliament, is expected to continue with the investigations.
The editors also used the opportunity to honour colleague who lost the lives this year, including Peter Okongo, Mutegi Njau, Washington Akumu, Rita Tinina, Njambi Koikai, Dickens Wesonga, Mercy Mawia, Michael Oyier, Fatma Rajab, Shadrack Mitty, and Sam Makenda.
On his part, Media Council Of Kenya Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo stressed on the need to guarantee the safety and welfare of journalists.
The annual conference, which began on Thursday and is being held at Sarova Woodlands Hotel, will end on Sunday.
