Judiciary condemns police officers seen harassing journalists in court
The Judiciary has condemned police officers captured on camera harassing journalists who were covering Embakasi East MP Babu Owino's case.
In a statement on Friday, July 21, 2023, the Judiciary said the act went against its principles of transparency, civic participation and accountability.
"The Judiciary espouses the principles of transparency, civic participation and accountability. Unless otherwise directed, the Judiciary does not bar the media from covering cases within its precincts. The Judiciary believes that media presence in court denotes permanent civic vigilance over the exercise of judicial authority, which is delegated to the Judiciary by the Kenyan people," Judiciary stated.
"Freedom of the media is secured under Article 34 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. We condemn in the strongest terms any harassment of the media in their line of duty, anywhere and particularly within court precincts. We expect all persons, especially our justice sector partners, to exhibit the highest standards of conduct in our courtrooms and within court precincts. The conduct of all justice actors must at all times promote and uphold the rule of law and build public confidence in the justice system."
In a video circulating online, a contingent of police officers is seen roughing up journalists outside the Milimani Law Courts despite identifying themselves as the press, moments before Babu Owino and six other accused persons were granted bail.
The members of the fourth estate are heard pleading with the officers to allow them to perform their duties in vain.
One of the police officers then pushes away Standard journalist Collins Kweyu, making him fall down on the concrete ground with a thud while holding his camera.
