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Media council to seek Ipoa’s help after police assault Milele FM scribe

Tuesday, April 6th, 2021 00:00 | By
Mediamax Network Limited journalist David Omurunga.

The Media Council of Kenya has condemned a case of police brutality meted on Mediamax Network Limited journalist David Omurunga on Sunday during curfew hours in Nakuru County.

Despite media personnel being gazetted as essential service providers and allowed past curfew hours, Omurunga, a senior Milele FM reporter, was clobbered a few minutes past 8pm while heading home.

Council CEO David Omwoyo, while accompanying journalists to the Central Police Station to seek clarity on the matter, described the incident as unacceptable.

Omwoyo said it was unfortunate that despite the journalist producing his identification documents, the police harassed and injured him.

“This is a case of police going rogue. It is not the work of the police to set laws. You cannot act to create new ones on top the ones set,” said Omwoyo.

He added that it was not the first incident of police brutality on journalists, saying it is a shame despite the Inspector General of Police vowing to handle the same.

Individual officers

Omwoyo added that they are working on identifying and isolating the individual officers who committed the offense and have them charged in court.

He noted that police have no powers to choose who should be essential service providers out of the circular gazetted by the Ministry of Interior.

“We will be writing to IPOA over the matter. You have to respect the law and allow journalist to conduct their work in a lawful manner,” he added.

Omurunga has formally reported the matter under OB29/5/4/2021. He said attempts to identify himself by submitting his MCK press pass fell on deaf years.

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