(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Kenyan Public Prosecutor Amos Wako, RSF expressed its concern following the assault on Malachi Owino, a photographer for the private daily “East African Standard”, and the detention of four journalists for unclear motives. “These recent attacks and detentions are part of the general context of intimidation and harassment of […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Kenyan Public Prosecutor Amos Wako, RSF expressed its concern following the assault on Malachi Owino, a photographer for the private daily “East African Standard”, and the detention of four journalists for unclear motives. “These recent attacks and detentions are part of the general context of intimidation and harassment of Kenyan journalists by the authorities and groups which support them,” said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard.
According to information collected by RSF, on 26 November 2000, Owino was attacked by a group of about twelve youths who are alleged members of the National Development Party (close to the government). The photographer was covering a meeting between the members of the commission for the reform of the constitution and citizens of Kisumu (Nianza province, in the country’s western region). The youths broke his camera and beat him, leaving Owino with a head injury.
On the same day, Johann Wandetto, Jackson Orina, John Oroni and Osinde Obare, journalists with the “People Daily”, the “Daily Nation”, the “Kenya Times” and the “East African Standard”, respectively, were arrested in Kitale (western region of the country). They were detained for twenty-four hours for reasons which remain unclear. To RSF’s knowledge, no complaint was filed against the four journalists. Their incarceration appears to be linked to the 23 November publication of a controversial article by Wandetto about a former minister, Francis Lotodo. The deceased minister’s family had publicly threatened Wandetto. Wandetto was allegedly interrogated on the matter by the police, while the three other journalists were allegedly acuused of helping him elude the police.
RSF asked the Kenyan authorities to “see to it that an exhaustive and impartial investigation is launched into the assault on Malachi Owino, and that the guilty parties are tried”. The organisation’s secretary-general also asked for an explanation for the detention of four journalists in Kitale. The organisation recalled that Kenya has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and as such, must protect press freedom and guarantee the security of journalists in the exercise of their profession.
Finally, RSF recalled that it is not the first time this year that members of political groups have attacked media outlets. In June, students attacked the headquarters of the “Daily Nation” (see IFEX alert of 13 June 2000). In February, Wandetto was sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment for his publication of “alarmist” information in December 1999 (see IFEX alerts of 25 and 16 February 2000).
