By:Luke Betty
The Kenya Media Sector Working Group (KMSWG) has called for a zero-tolerance approach to violence against journalists ahead of the 2027 General Election, warning that increasing attacks on the media threaten press freedom and democracy.
The coalition of media organizations said Kenya, once regarded as a regional leader in media freedom, is witnessing an unprecedented and coordinated assault on journalists aimed at concealing the truth and limiting public access to information.
KMSWG noted that journalists across the country have increasingly faced intimidation, assaults, harassment and attacks by state agents, politicians and organized criminal gangs while carrying out their duties.
The group expressed concern over the growing use of hired goons to target frontline journalists during protests and political events, accusing security agencies of failing to protect media professionals from violence.
“Political leaders must realize that we will not allow journalists to be used as collateral damage in political wars.”
Furthermore, the assault on journalism is a regional contagion that requires a unified pushback,” read part of the group’s statement.
According to the media sector, the shrinking civic space has fueled self-censorship, impunity and disregard for the rule of law, with police allegedly turning a blind eye as journalists are attacked and their equipment destroyed.
The coalition cited Kenya’s decline in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index from position 69 in 2022 to 117 in 2025 as evidence of the country’s deteriorating media environment.
“Once viewed as a beacon of press freedom in the region, Kenya has plummeted down the global rankings, categorizing our working environment as deeply problematic and increasingly dangerous,” noted the group.”
KMSWG also demanded justice for journalists who have suffered attacks in the line of duty, citing that Nakuru-based journalist Catherine Wanjeri Kariuki who was shot by police while covering protests had not gotten justice while the killing of Meru based blogger Daniel Muthiani remained unresolved.
The group further challenged media owners and newsroom managers to prioritize journalists’ welfare by providing comprehensive medical insurance, saying protective gear alone is insufficient for reporters covering high-risk assignments.
As the country prepares for the 2027 elections, the sector has called on political leaders and parties to publicly commit to ending violence, intimidation and incitement against journalists, emphasizing that the media should never become collateral damage in political contests.
The coalition also called on the Ministry of Interior, the National Police Service, IPOA and the East African Community to take decisive action to protect journalists, ensure accountability for attacks and defend press freedom across the region.
The KMSWG brings together key organizations in the country’s media industry, including the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), Kenya Editors Guild (KEG), Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA), Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK), Kenya Parliamentary Journalists Association (KPJA), Digital Broadcasters Association of Kenya (DBAK), the Kenya National Association of Broadcast Media Owners (KNABMO), and the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association (RUPHA), among other partners working to promote press freedom, journalists’ safety and media professionalism.
