Kenyan Sports Journalists Face Rising Hostility

The Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) has denounced the attack on one of its members during an international rugby tournament at Nyayo National Stadium.
The Association cautioned that increasing animosity toward journalists is deteriorating sports coverage nationwide.
The incident took place on February 15 during the final day of the HSBC Rugby SVNS Series, where journalist Ruckiel Odikor was reportedly subjected to physical handling and intimidation while performing his professional duties.
In a statement signed by Secretary General Moses Wakhisi and released on Tuesday, SJAK stated it initially opted for quiet engagement with key stakeholders before making the incident public.
“We deliberately prioritised engagement with the affected member, event organisers, the Kenya Rugby Union and relevant security agencies to establish the facts and safeguard our member’s welfare,” the Association explained.
After consulting all parties, SJAK indicated it was forced to take a firm position, characterizing the incident as unacceptable and indicative of a broader issue confronting journalists across various sports.
“Journalism is not a crime, and a sports venue must never become a place of fear for accredited media professionals,” the statement read, noting that “an attack on a sports journalist is an attack on sports reporting in Kenya.”
Obstruction of coverage
While recognizing cooperation from the Kenya Rugby Union and security agencies, SJAK expressed concern over what it termed an emerging pattern of intimidation, obstruction of coverage, confiscation of equipment and physical harassment of journalists at sporting events.
“These incidents reveal a systemic gap in the understanding and management of media relations within the sporting ecosystem,” the Association stated, observing that the issue spans across football, athletics, rugby, boxing, basketball, volleyball and motorsport.
SJAK stressed that no disagreement, breach of protocol or misunderstanding can justify the use of physical force against a journalist.
“Physical confrontation can never be an enforcement mechanism and will not be tolerated,” the statement declared, noting that any disputes should be addressed through administrative and procedural channels, including withdrawal of accreditation or referral to professional bodies.
Professional responsibility
Simultaneously, the Association acknowledged that journalists also carry professional responsibility.
It indicated that any conduct not meeting acceptable standards would be addressed internally through its disciplinary mechanisms, emphasizing that professionalism must be reciprocal.
To prevent future incidents, SJAK requested its inclusion in Local Organising Committees for major international and high-risk local sporting events.
According to the Association, early participation would help ensure proper planning around media access, zoning and security briefings, reducing friction and misunderstandings.
“When journalists operate under threat, coverage suffers. When coverage suffers, athletes lose visibility and sport loses commercial value,” SJAK cautioned, noting that protecting journalists ultimately protects sport itself.
The Association demanded zero tolerance for violence in sporting venues. “A journalist’s tools are the pen and the camera, not self-defence. Our duty is to tell the story of sport and not to survive it,” the statement concluded.