The recent assault and wave of threats against journalists in Bomet has escalated to the Senate with Senator Hillary Sigei spearheading efforts to have it addressed.
Sigei on Wednesday petitioned the House Committee on National Security, Defence and Human Rights to probe the matter and provide plans in place to guarantee the safety, security and freedom of the journalists working in the county.
In his petition, Sigei particularly wants to know the progress made in investigating an assault incident meted out to some journalists by assailants in Bomet town while covering a demonstration by ECDE teachers.
He further wants to know the actions taken by police at the Bomet police station where the case was reported.
“The committee should state whether the county official or agent who is alleged to have instigated the attacks has since been arrested,” he said.
“…and if not, inform the house why the person has not been arrested to date,” he continued.
Sigei also wants a wholistic assessment regarding the measures taken by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) in protecting and promoting the freedom and independence of the media.
Officers probing the matter arrested Thursday one suspect in connection to the incident.
He was due to be arraigned in court.
Senate majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot who weighed in on the matter argued that journalists working in the counties are working under difficult circumstances.
He said they are being attacked, victimized and even threatened against reporting negative stories about the county governors.
“Mr Speaker, I can count no less than 10 counties where I have seen journalists being attacked in the last few years for highlighting a particular story in that county…this is not a light issue and it is not just in Bomet alone,” he remarked.
He added;
“This is not something that we need to treat casually, it is my sincere hope that Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) and MCK will come to the Senate when this presentation is made so that we can have statistics of the journalists who have been attacked for simply doing their work.”
Cheruiyot added that the particular county bosses who hire goons to attack journalists “for not singing their tune” must also be named and censored.
He underscored the significance of journalists working in an environment free from threats and intimidation, emphasizing their crucial role in shedding light on both positive and negative aspects of society.