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Media house closures, arrests, censorship witnessed in EAC

Saturday June 24 2017
menya

Kenyan writer Walter Menya (in white shirt) celebrates with lawyers James Orengo (left), Apollo Mboya (second left) and Nelson Havi after being released at Milimani Law courts on June 20, 2017. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NMG

By FRED OLUOCH

The media in East Africa is facing a shrinking of press freedom with independent media bearing the brunt of a clampdown by governments.

Stringent new media laws that leave the media with little wiggle room, and state agencies continue to jail, arbitrarily arrest and harass journalists, with some being beaten and even killed. 

This past week, Kenyan journalist Walter Menya was arrested by criminal investigations officers for allegedly demanding and receiving a bribe. He was released after two days in custody, without being charged with any offence.

Before the arrest of the Nation Media Group reporter, rights watchdogs Human Rights Watch and Article 19 had released a report detailing how Kenyan authorities abuse journalists reporting on sensitive issues.

Specifically targeted are journalists and bloggers reporting on corruption, disputed land acquisition, counter-terrorism operations, and the 2007-2008 post-electoral violence, the report said.

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Death threats

At least two journalists have died under circumstances that may have been related to their work.

The two organisations also documented 16 direct death threats against journalists and bloggers across the country in recent years, and cases in which police arbitrarily arrested, detained, and later released without charge at least 14 journalists and bloggers.

“We must stem the tide of increased violence and impunity against journalists in Kenya. No policy to address the situation can succeed if measures to prevent aggression against, and to protect at-risk journalists, are not accompanied with thorough and timely prosecution of all crimes committed against them,” said Henry Maina, regional director at Article 19 Eastern Africa.

‘Palatable’ stories

In Burundi, the media remains under constant threat since 2015, when a political crisis erupted following President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to run for a third term. 

According to the International Media Support Organisation, some 50 journalists have left the country, with 42 of them fleeing to neighbouring Rwanda, some with their families. Others are trying to get there but security forces are turning people away at the border crossings.

Several media houses, especially radio and television, have been shut down while the remaining print media are expected to write stories palatable to the government or else desist from writing at all.

Many journalists in Burundi complain that their rights are constantly violated but the National Media Council disagrees, saying that journalists work under good conditions.

READ: Burundian journalist still missing

During World Press Day on May 3, Denise Mugugu, chair of the Burundi Press House, told Radio Deutsche Welle that the situation in the country has impacted negatively on the journalism profession with most radio stations remaining closed. Only three have reopened since the 2015 coup.

In South Sudan, journalism remains the most threatened sector since the civil war broke out in December 2013.

The government, through Information Minister Michael Makue, who is also the government spokesperson, has made it clear that the media should not interview rebels to get their side of the story, otherwise they will be seen as working in cahoots with the latter.

Several newspapers such as The Citizen, The Nation Mirror; Al aria, Altabeer and Free Voice, have been shut down indefinitely while a number of journalist such as George Livio, of the UN’s Radio Miraya, spent two years in detention without trial.

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