On 19 January, members of the General Service Unit (GSU) of the Kenya National Police Service (NPS) attacked and assaulted Standard Media Group's journalist, Daniel Chege, during a protest in Molo, a town in Nakuru County.

Journalist Daniel Chege. Credit: Kenyans.co.ke

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), in condemning the attack. It also urges the Kenyan government to ensure the safety of journalists and media workers covering demonstrations.

Journalist Daniel Chege reported that he and his Standard Media Group team were attacked by the police, despite following all protocols for covering the protest. "They tore my shirt and hit me with batons, even though we identify ourselves as members of the press. The protest was peaceful, yet the police ordered us to stop covering the event,". He sustained injuries on his left arm, as a result of the assault.

The reporters were covering a protest in Molo, a town in Nakuru County. The protest erupted on 19 January, following the murder of a well-known local activist, Richard Otieno, whose body was foundthe same day.

KUJ Secretary General Eric Charles Oduor said, "The police provoked the journalists, who were sitting inside a car doing their job. We condemn such acts of provocation and remind police that journalists have a right to cover demonstrations, and inform the public."

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger expressed his solidarity with the injured journalist and stated that it is unacceptable for the police to assault media workers who are simply doing their jobs:

"Journalists covering protests pose absolutely no threat or danger to the police. No member of a security force has any right to assault a journalist. We call on the Kenyan government to open an investigation into this incident and bring the perpetrators to justice."