Take action against individuals who harassed Wajir scribes— MCK

The Media Council of Kenya is calling on the authorities to take action against individuals caught harassing Wajir-based journalists recently.

MCK through its CEO David Omwoyo expressed concern over the snail pace in which the investigations were being done.

On July 30, chaos erupted at the Wajir county assembly after members argued over the proposed budget for the Financial Year 2024-2025.

The argument escalated into violent altercations and property damaged in the assembly chambers as MCAs  fought over the mace.

Those caught in the melee were journalists who were covering the event with NTV correspondent Noordin Elmoge being physically assaulted.

In a video captured, the reporter is seen being frog marched to the gate by sergeant at arms before the gate is closed.

Speaking to the Star on phone, Elmoge said he recorded a statement but no progress has been made as far as the case is concerned.

“It is very unfortunate what the sergeant at arms did to my colleagues and I. We did not deserve this because we were only doing our job. Those who attacked us are well known and its only fair that law takes its course,” he said.

In a letter addressed to the Wajir speaker, MCK raised concerns over the incident that occurred on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, during a special sitting of the assembly to debate the County Finance Bill 2024.

It said journalists reported being denied access to the assembly chambers and forcibly evicted by assembly security and uniformed police officers.

The media council also cited two other incidents, one on March 20, 2023, during the handover of cholera kits to the Wajir County government by the World Health Organization.

The other was on March 30, 2023, at Jogbaru Primary School during the launch of the Early Childhood Development Education policy.

"The council is greatly concerned about these allegations. They border on violations of the constitution under Articles 3 and 35 on freedom of expression, access to information, and freedom of the media under Article 34," reads the letter.

The statement was signed by CEO and Secretary to the Council, Omwoyo, and copied to Florence Kajuju, Chairperson of the Commission on Administrative Justice.

It urged Speaker Abdille Yussuf to take corrective measures to ensure accredited journalists are properly facilitated with the information they require while doing their work, without unnecessary interference and harassment.