An alarming wave of threats and intimidation targeting journalists in Kericho County has drawn sharp concern from the Media Council of Kenya (MCK).
The council has expressed fears over growing hostility to scribes, thereby curtailing professionals’ legitimate entitlement to press freedom, democratic governance and the rights of the public to access information.
Addressing the media at a press briefing at the ACK Grace Conference Centre, the Media Council of Kenya’s Manager of Regulatory Affairs, Terence Mnishi, said the Council had launched a decisive follow-up fact-finding mission in response to formal complaints alleging harassment, intimidation and interference with journalists in the course of their professional duties.
Mnishi said the incidents strike at the heart of press freedom as guaranteed by the Constitution and the Media Council Act, warning that attacks on journalists silence the media and deny citizens their right to accurate and timely information.
He noted that a free and secure media was a cornerstone of democratic accountability and good governance, and any attempt to intimidate journalists undermines public trust in institutions.
The Regulatory Manager further cautioned that failure to act decisively against such violations risks normalising impunity and weakening the rule of law.
“The Media Council is legally mandated to safeguard press freedom and uphold standards of responsible, ethical journalism. Any threats against journalists jeopardise not only the safety of media practitioners but also the public’s constitutionally guaranteed right to access information,” Mnishi stated.
He noted that journalists in Kericho routinely engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including Members of the County Assembly, ward administrators and members of the public and that such interactions must be governed by respect for the law and democratic norms.
Mnishi cautioned that dissatisfaction with media coverage, however strongly felt, cannot justify intimidation or obstruction, stressing that interference with journalists in the course of their duties constitutes a criminal offence.
“Where there are concerns about how a journalist has undertaken their work, the law provides clear avenues for redress. Threats, harassment and interference with journalistic work are unlawful and unacceptable in a democratic society,” he said.
Mnishi urged aggrieved individuals and institutions to channel complaints through the Media Council of Kenya or the Complaints Commission, bodies legally mandated to investigate alleged breaches of the journalistic code of conduct and to impose appropriate sanctions where necessary.
“The Complaints Commission exists to resolve disputes between the public and the media. Bypassing these mechanisms and resorting to threats only escalates conflict and exposes individuals to legal consequences,” Mnishi added.
As part of the Kericho mission, the Media Council team also held engagements with local leadership and security agencies, aimed at strengthening the safety of journalists and reinforcing coordination in the handling of reported threats.
Following the press briefing, the MCK delegation paid courtesy calls to the Kericho County Commissioner’s office and the Kericho County Police Commandant, where discussions centred on the protection of journalists, enforcement of the law against intimidation and the need for closer collaboration in safeguarding press freedom.
Local journalists have lauded the intervention as timely, citing escalating hostility towards the media.
The Chairperson of the Kericho Press Club, Audrey Chemutai, emphasised that ensuring the safety and welfare of journalists operating in the county has become an urgent priority.
“As journalists, we are committed to ethical and professional reporting. Any grievances against our work should follow the established procedures. Threats and intimidation only create fear and weaken the media’s ability to serve the public interest,” Chemutai said.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Kericho Civil Society Organisation Network, David Ruto, described threats against the media as direct assaults on the fundamental rights guaranteed under Chapter Four of the Constitution.
“Intimidation of journalists is not just an attack on individuals; it is an infringement on the very freedoms that underpin our democracy,” Ruto emphasised, calling for urgent measures to safeguard media practitioners in the county.
“The right to life, freedom of expression and freedom of association are constitutional guarantees. Any threat to a journalist’s life or liberty is a serious offence that requires the attention of law enforcement,” he said.
The chairman further defended journalists’ right to attend and report on public meetings, noting that public forums cannot be selectively closed to the media without clear justification.
“If a meeting is public, the media has a right to attend and report. If someone intends to hold a private meeting, that must be clearly stated. Arbitrary exclusion or threats against journalists in public spaces is unlawful,” he said.
Ruto warned political leaders against hostility towards the press, arguing that intolerance of media scrutiny often mirrors a broader disregard for citizens’ rights, particularly as the country moves closer to the next election cycle.
“If a leader can threaten a journalist, the next victim could be a vulnerable citizen. Threatening someone’s life is a criminal offence, and where evidence exists, the police must act decisively,” he said.
The Media Council, journalists’ associations and civil society groups jointly called on leaders, public officials and citizens to respect the media’s watchdog role, emphasizing that a free, independent and secure press remains indispensable to accountability, transparency and democratic governance.
They reaffirmed their commitment to defending press freedom and upholding the Constitution of Kenya, warning that intimidation of journalists will not be tolerated in a society governed by the rule of law.
By Gilbert Mutai
