By Harrison Kivisu
Hundreds of journalists from Mombasa County took to the streets on Monday to commemorate the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, sending out a powerful message to end all forms of violence and impunity against journalists.
The procession, which started at Uhuru Gardens and culminated at the Little Theatre, was marked by chants, banners, and speeches calling for justice and protection for journalists.
The invited speakers among them veteran journalists,human rights activists and Mombasa senator agitated for a safer, freer environment for media practitioners
The event, held under police authorization, drew participation from several human rights organizations, including Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI), Haki Yetu, and Human Rights Agenda (HURIA), among others.
One of the key issues highlighted during the commemoration was Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV), which has become an emerging threat against journalists especially women in the media.
Brenda Dosio, Coast Regional Coordinator for the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), emphasized that women journalists are disproportionately targeted through online harassment and cyberbullying, which threatens not only their safety but also press freedom.
“We must stand against technology-facilitated gender-based violence targeting female journalists.They are among the most exposed due to the advancement of technology. Journalists must not sit quietly they should speak up and report these violations. A threat to media is a threat to democracy,”said Dosio.
Dosio urged journalists to collaborate with human rights organizations in documenting and reporting cases so that perpetrators can be brought to justice.
Ending Impunity to Protect Democracy
Haki Yetu representative Munira Ali reiterated the importance of addressing impunity, saying that ending TFGBV and other crimes against journalists will strengthen democracy.
“These crimes have a chilling effect on press freedom and undermine the ability of journalists to hold those in power accountable,” said Ali.
Mombasa Press Club Chairman Omar Shungu echoed the call, urging authorities to fully enforce existing laws that protect journalists and media institutions.
“We are calling on the government to ensure that those who violate media freedom are prosecuted according to the law,” said Shungu. “Kenya has made strides in passing laws that protect journalists, but implementation remains the biggest challenge,”Shungu said.
The commemoration also saw the participation of Mombasa Lands CEC Mohamed Hussein and Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki, both of whom pledged continued support for press freedom.
“We have laws that protect the rights of journalists. What we are asking is for these laws to be respected and enforced,” said Hussein.
Veteran journalists including Elkana Jacob, Charles Mghenyi, and Abdulswamad Ali also joined the event, encouraging unity among journalists and urging them to uphold integrity in their reporting.
“Today we stand together to speak in one voice. When united, we can overcome the challenges facing our profession,” said Mghenyi.
Elkana Jacob, a parliamentary aspirant for Nyali Constituency, called on journalists to use their influence to promote good leadership and positive societal change.
“Journalists shape public opinion. Let’s use our platforms to tell positive stories and drive transformation,” he said.
Abdulswamad Ali reminded journalists of their duty as truth-tellers and defenders of democracy.
“A journalist is a guardian of truth. You must remain ethical, objective, and fearless in holding leaders accountable,” said Ali.
Human Rights Groups Pledge Support
Eddy Otieno, Communications Officer at Human Rights Agenda (HURIA), reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to standing in solidarity with the media fraternity.
“We will continue to support journalists in telling stories that drive social change while advocating for their safety and rights,” said Otieno, speaking on behalf of HURIA Executive Director Yusuf Lule.
Kenya has several laws safeguarding press freedom, including the Constitution of Kenya (2010) Article 34 guarantees freedom of the media.
The Kenya Information and Communication Act (1998) Regulates broadcasting and communication.
Others are the Media Council Act (2013) Establishes the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) to promote media freedom and self-regulation and then the Access to Information Act (2016) Ensures citizens’ right to access public information.
Despite these protections, journalists in Kenya continue to face physical attacks, intimidation, online harassment, and censorship.
The Media Council of Kenya’s Coast representative, Ben Serem, reaffirmed the council’s commitment to promoting a safe and conducive working environment for journalists.
“We will continue to champion media freedoms and ensure journalists practice in a secure and supportive environment,” said Serem.
A Call for Solidarity and Action
The event concluded with a strong message — the fight against crimes targeting journalists, especially TFGBV, requires collective action from all sectors of society.
As the chants of “A threat to media is a threat to democracy” echoed through the streets of Mombasa, the message was clear: journalists must be protected, respected, and empowered to tell the truth without fear.
