A police officer was purportedly caught on camera erasing film from an NTV camera crew in Majengo, Nairobi, on Wednesday. The National Police Service (NPS) has denounced the conduct.
The Nation claims that although one police officer purportedly erased video taken during the tumultuous events in Majengo, another police officer prevented a photojournalist from using his camera, which was part of their ban.
The reporters were there to cover the protests that started this morning after a police operation on Tuesday night allegedly resulted in the death of a 17-year-old boy named Ibrahim Ramadhan.
As a service, we are deeply concerned and firmly condemn such misbehavior, said police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga in a statement.
“Firm and decisive action will be taken against any officer found to have engaged in misconduct,” the police stated, adding that they have opened an inquiry into the incident.
“The National Police Service is dedicated to protecting and advancing media freedom, as well as protecting journalists in Kenya, in accordance with the Constitution and international standards,” the statement continued.
According to the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), eight people were shot by police during recent protests, and two of them died as a result.
Six of the injured were sent to Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital for medical attention, according to KHRC. The commission further mentioned that one of the deceased was transferred to Nairobi Funeral Home, while the second body’s location is now unclear because police have removed it.
Police harassment of journalists has always been a problem; during last year’s statewide demonstrations over proposed tax increases in June, multiple journalists were beaten by Nairobi police.
KBC photojournalist John Omido was doused with water laced with chemicals, and AFP journalist Collins Olunga was hurt by a tear gas canister. Jutus Mwangi, a journalist for the Standard, was also thrown from a moving police car after being violently arrested.
Journalist Daniel Chege was attacked by General Service Unit personnel in January of this year while he was covering a nonviolent demonstration in Molo, Nakuru County, for Standard Media Group. Chege was assaulted with batons, injuring his left arm, even though he claimed to be press.
