By Fredrick Njuguna
Kiambu journalists take to the streets in protest demanding justice for their colleague, who was shot yesterday by police.
Nakuru-based journalist, Catherine Wanjeri Kariuki of Mediamax, was shot by a policeman while covering yesterday’s demonstrations in the town.
Journalists in Kiambu County took to the streets today to protest against the shooting of their colleague. The journalists reprimanded the callous act of the rogue trigger-happy security officer terming it as “spine-chilling”, “barbaric” and unacceptable noting that the journalist was only discharging her noble duty covering a public event.
Claims that the officer who shot and injured Ms. Kariuki was hell-bent on harming her even though she was donning the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) press jacket which was visible when she was shot twice in the thigh.
The irate men and women of the press said that Ms. Wanjeri’s case was not the only one where police officers have displayed utter disregard for the law by attacking journalists while on duty.
The agitated media practitioners urged the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) to move with speed and reign in on the rogue policeman involved in the unfortunate shooting.
The infuriated journalists marched through the streets of Kiambu town while carrying placards and chanting slogans denouncing the violence meted out to journalists and dropped their petition at the Kiambu police station demanding that all journalists be respected and protected while in their line of duty.
They also demanded for sacking, arrest and prosecution of the rogue officer, noting that they would follow the matter to the latter.
The Kenya Editors’ Guild has also aired their voice, condemning the continued targeting and brazen attacks on journalists covering protests all over the country.