By Charles Ogalo
Mombasa Press Club is all set to lead hundreds of local Journalists in the port City in marking this year’s International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists in a unique way in the County.
The United Nations-recognized day is observed annually on 2 November and draws attention to the level of impunity for crimes against journalists, which remains extremely high globally.
Being one of the vibrant Press Clubs in the country working in partnership with Media Council of Kenya, Mombasa Press Club has lined up a number of eye-catching activities to mark the day including a peaceful walk along various roads within Mombasa CBD and a public forum aimed at sensitizing local Journalists and other media stakeholders on matters Freedom of the Press and Safety & Security of Journalists.
Omar Abdallah, the Press Club Chairman confirmed that various stakeholders including human rights defenders, officials from state agencies like Office of Director of Public Prosecution, Independent Police Oversight Authority IPOA and the County administration including the County Government have been invited to participate in this year’s commemoration event.
“Mombasa Press Club is all set for the day 2ND November, and we will be partnering with a number of local human rights organization such as Haki Africa, MUHURI and URIA together with our main partner Media Council of Kenya to commemorate this important occasion in our life as journalists” Mr Abdallah admitted.
2nd November as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI) was a landmark establishment by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) under Resolution 68/163. is however an occasion to commemorate the memory of killed journalists, highlight the risks that journalists take to do their job, call for accountability for crimes committed against then, and reaffirm commitment to the protection and safety of journalists in the course of doing their work.
The day is however an occasion to commemorate the memory of killed journalists, highlight the risks that journalists take to do their job, call for accountability for crimes committed against then, and reaffirm commitment to the protection and safety of journalists in the course of doing their work.
The UN resolution on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity was adopted by General Assembly on 8th December 2013 and recognizes the relevance of freedom of expression and of free media in building inclusive knowledge societies and democracies as well as in fostering intercultural dialogue, peace and good governance, according to the UNGA.
The UN Resolution therefore urges Member States including Kenya to implement definite measures countering the present culture of impunity. It also condemns all attacks and violence against journalists and media workers.
According to data from the Media council of Kenya, 2019 was one of the most difficult years for journalists in terms of harassment, physical attacks and other threats.
That at least 20 Journalists were also assaulted while covering protests against the government in 2023 and 17 more fell victims in 2024 during mass protest against Finance Bill 2024.
“Among those who were targeted included Joe Muhia and Iddi Ali Juma of AP who were arrested and later released after being assaulted. In an incident captured on video, Standard Group video editor Justice Mwangi Macharia was arrested and violently hauled out of a moving police motor vehicle, sustaining physical injuries. Nation Media Group’s Taifa Leo reporter Sammy Kimatu was also thrown out of a moving police Land Rover, sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment. Maureen Murethi (NTV ) has also been hospitalized after police aimed a canister at her as she covered the protests” David Omwoyo, the MCK Chief Executive Officer confirmed in the Council’s press release dated 18th June, 2024.
A recent UNESCO monitoring report also shows that more than 1,700 Journalists have been killed in line duty globally since 1993, in which more than 50 percent of the killings occurred in crisis- and conflict-zones, with continuously high numbers in the first half of 2024.
