By Elvis Wasike

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has raised concern over increasing attacks against journalists, calling for stronger accountability, improved working conditions and coordinated safety mechanisms ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The Council warned that growing cases of physical assaults, intimidation, abductions, digital harassment and poor remuneration were threatening press freedom and undermining the public's right to access credible information.

The concerns were raised on Monday, November 2, 2026, during the commemoration of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI), held in Nairobi under the theme, "Enhancing Journalists' Safety and Protection Mechanisms Ahead of the 2027 General Election."

MCK Board Chairman Maina Muiruri, through Board Member Tabitha Mutemi, called for a comprehensive review of existing journalist safety mechanisms to establish whether current laws, policies and institutions were adequately addressing emerging threats.

He urged the National Police Service, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and other justice institutions to ensure that attacks against journalists were thoroughly investigated and perpetrators brought to justice.

"The safety of journalists is a measure of a country's commitment to democratic values and fundamental freedoms," he stated.

Muiruri further challenged media owners and editors to take responsibility for the safety of their journalists, particularly those assigned to cover politically sensitive events and other high-risk assignments.

He emphasised that freelancers, correspondents and independent media practitioners should also benefit from safety and protection measures.

MCK Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo warned that attacks against journalists were increasingly taking place both physically and in digital spaces, with women journalists facing disproportionate levels of online harassment.

Omwoyo also raised concern over delayed and inadequate salaries, arguing that poor working conditions were exposing journalists to additional risks and weakening the independence of the media industry.

He called for every reported incident of violence, threats and intimidation to be documented, investigated and addressed through appropriate legal channels.

The Council's Manager for Press Freedom and Advocacy, Rebecca Mutiso, presented the Quarterly Situation Report on Press Freedom Violations covering July to September 2026, revealing that 47 cases had been recorded during the period.

The cases included 34 assaults, five threats, two arrests, two incidents of intimidation or abduction and four other violations.

Police officers were identified as the most frequently reported perpetrators, followed by politicians, while Nairobi County recorded the highest number of incidents at 13.

The 47 cases represented a significant increase compared with 24 and 17 incidents recorded during comparable periods in the previous two years.

Mutiso noted that although Kenya had improved its position on the global press freedom index from 117 to 106, the country had remained in the red category for four consecutive years.

Meanwhile, Kenya Editors Guild President Zubeida Kananu linked journalists' safety to their welfare, revealing worrying findings from a survey involving 120 journalists.

According to the survey, 52 per cent of journalists earned below KSh50,000, while only 45 per cent had permanent employment and 42 per cent received no employment benefits.

The survey further established that 83 per cent of respondents reported depressive symptoms during screening, with 65 per cent recording moderate-to-severe symptoms.

Kananu called for better employment contracts, timely salaries, insurance, medical cover and mental health support, alongside a coordinated national framework to protect journalists.

Representing the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Information Secretary Temesi Mukani reaffirmed the government's commitment to protecting press freedom and working with media stakeholders to address violations.

Mukani emphasised the importance of strengthening the capacity of journalists and justice institutions while promoting sustainable media enterprises.

He also highlighted the recently adopted National Communication Policy and Access to Information Policy as important instruments in strengthening the media sector and advancing citizens' constitutional right to information.

MCK Director for Media Training and Development Victor Bwire, OGW, called for a broader understanding of journalist safety, saying it should encompass the rights to life, security, decent employment and mental health.

He warned that harassment, violence, poor remuneration and unstable newsroom environments were contributing to the departure of experienced journalists from the industry.

The discussions also examined emerging threats associated with digital platforms, online broadcasters and content creators, particularly during politically charged events.

UNESCO Consultant Lea Simonini revealed the scale of impunity facing journalists globally, noting that 1,641 journalists had been killed worldwide since 2006, with nearly nine out of ten cases remaining unpunished.

In Africa, the impunity rate stood at 83 per cent, highlighting the persistent challenges in securing justice for journalists killed in the line of duty.

She further warned about online harassment, surveillance, legal intimidation and coordinated disinformation, including AI-generated deepfakes, which could become major threats during the 2027 election period.

Representing Director of Public Prosecutions Renson M. Ingonga, Senior Deputy Director Jacinta Nyamosi reaffirmed the ODPP's commitment to pursuing justice in cases involving attacks against journalists.

She cited prosecutions relating to attacks on journalists, including Alex Kalamagola and Capital FM journalist Angela Kweluri, while urging media practitioners covering the 2027 elections to uphold accuracy, fairness, balance and objectivity.

The event also featured panel discussions examining ways of ending impunity and strengthening collective protection mechanisms.

Investigative journalist Francis Odee of Citizen TV disclosed that journalists covering politically sensitive stories were increasingly facing surveillance and targeted attacks, sometimes forcing them to change their routes and vehicles for personal safety.

International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) Kenya Chairperson Josephine Karani revealed that the organisation's safety monitoring initiative had documented 242 cases of online abuse across several African countries, including 49 cases in Kenya.

She challenged stakeholders to move beyond documenting violations and pursue concrete legal and policy interventions against perpetrators.

A photojournalist also recounted a disturbing experience during a recent by-election in which he was tear-gassed, assaulted and robbed of his camera containing images documenting the incident.

The attack forced him to stay away from work for between two and three months, exposing the economic consequences of violence against journalists, particularly freelancers whose livelihoods depend on their equipment.

He further questioned the effectiveness of existing reporting mechanisms after claiming that despite recording a statement with police, a subsequent public statement by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations indicated that no journalist had reported being attacked.

As Kenya approaches the 2027 General Election, media stakeholders warned that failure to address attacks against journalists could weaken independent reporting, encourage impunity and deny citizens access to accurate information.

They called for closer cooperation between government agencies, security institutions, media organisations and human rights bodies to ensure journalists can carry out their constitutional mandate without fear, intimidation or violence.