Irungu Houghton reports. By Nyang’au Araka, Amnesty International Kenya has expressed alarm about what it calls an escalating trend of harassment, interference, and physical violence targeting journalists covering political and public gatherings nationwide.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday, the human rights organization indicated that numerous cases documented from February to May 2026 suggest an increasing danger to press freedom leading up to the 2027 General Election.
Notable cases included the violent attack on journalists at a political gathering in Trans Nzoia County, where correspondents were reportedly beaten, their equipment destroyed, and recordings intentionally erased.
The organization also pointed to occurrences in Nairobi and Nyeri where journalists faced intimidation, obstruction, or removal from political events despite clearly identifying themselves as media representatives.
“Journalists reporting on political or public occasions have faced harassment, obstruction, and physical violence,” Amnesty Kenya stated in their announcement.
The rights organization additionally mentioned that journalists had openly voiced concerns about threats and being denied entry during recent presidential activities, such as the Naivasha Education Conference and the current Africa Forward Summit.
According to Amnesty Kenya, these incidents demonstrate “a concerning pattern” where political assemblies are progressively becoming hazardous environments for journalists.
“Aggressive political supporters, private security personnel, and even law enforcement officials seem to act without consequences,” the statement read.
The organization cautioned that assaults and intimidation against journalists create a chilling effect on the media and may lead reporters to practice self-censorship, contravening constitutional guarantees on freedom of expression and press independence.
“Journalists are not visitors at political or public events. They are constitutional actors fulfilling a public function essential to democratic accountability,” Amnesty Kenya emphasized.
The announcement also condemned the recent National Assembly’s rejection of a proposed Sh826 million allocation intended to resolve government debts to media outlets, characterizing the decision as a blow to the financial viability of journalism.
Amnesty Kenya urged political leaders, the National Police Service, and monitoring bodies, including the Media Council of Kenya and Independent Policing Oversight Authority, to take immediate steps to safeguard journalists and examine alleged infringements.
“Inaction in addressing these issues risks normalizing violence against journalists and undermining the pillars of democratic governance,” the organization cautioned.
The announcement was signed by Irungu Houghton, Director of Amnesty International Kenya Section.