MCK raises alarm over rising attacks on journalists ahead of 2027 polls

By  Lynet Igadwah

Senior Reporter

Nation Media Group

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has raised the alarm over a surge in press freedom violations, warning that documented cases are rising as the country heads towards the 2027 General Election.

Data from the MCK shows that 47 cases of press freedom violations against journalists were documented between July and September 2026, involving physical attacks, arrests, threats, intimidation and harassment.

The latest figures in the MCK’s Press Freedom Violations Situation Report point to a sharp rise in attacks against journalists, up from 17 cases recorded during the corresponding period in 2025 and 24 in 2024.

However, inadequate documentation of violations and victims' reluctance to pursue legal action continue to hamper efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.

MCK Manager for Press Freedom and Advocacy Rebecca Mutiso said journalists often fail to obtain police Occurrence Book (OB) numbers or P3 forms from hospitals after being attacked, leaving investigators and prosecutors without the evidence needed to pursue cases.

“When we do not have evidence to pick up a case, then it becomes a big challenge to us,” Ms Mutiso said yesterday during the commemoration of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI) 2026.

She cited reluctance among victims to pursue litigation as another obstacle, with fears of employer interference and loss of advertising revenue discouraging journalists from seeking justice.

Of the 47 documented violations, 34 involved assaults, five threats, two arrests and two cases of intimidation. Abduction, harassment and surveillance accounted for one case each.

Nairobi recorded the highest number of violations with 13 cases, followed by Homa Bay with eight, Meru with seven, Bungoma with six and Nyandarua with four.

Of the 47 cases, 36 involved male journalists, nine involved female journalists, while two involved journalists of both genders whose individual gender identities were not specified.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) stressed the importance of documenting and preserving evidence of violations to strengthen accountability efforts.

KNCHR assistant director for reforms and accountability Lucas Kimanthi questioned the effectiveness of police deployment during incidents of violence, citing the attack on journalists in Ol Kalou.

“In Ol Kalou, when the first attack happened in that school, there were around 30 police officers and none of them responded,” he noted, saying the presence of security officers did not necessarily guarantee protection.

On July 16, 2026, journalists covering the parliamentary by-election in Ol Kalou Constituency, Nyandarua County, were violently attacked, beaten, and robbed by armed, masked men in SUVs and civilian clothing

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Africa Programme Coordinator Muthoki Mumo warned that the security environment for journalists in East Africa was becoming increasingly dangerous, particularly during election periods.

Citing developments in Tanzania and Uganda, she said journalists in the region were increasingly exposed to assaults, beatings and internet shutdowns that disrupt their work and undermine their safety.

She cautioned against assuming that Kenya was insulated from the threats witnessed in neighbouring countries, saying similar forces and factions were also operating locally.

“We like to think Kenya is a beacon, a haven of press freedom, but the forces and factions that have made East Africa increasingly dangerous for journalists are also operating here,” she said, urging stakeholders to anticipate potential threats ahead of the 2027 polls.

The media stakeholdres highlighted that beyond legal redress, journalists facing threats also need immediate protection.

Defenders Coalition representative Obino Nyambane said the organisation provides bail and bond services to journalists and other human rights defenders facing criminalisation over their work.

It also offers emergency relocation services for journalists working in areas that have become hostile, enabling them to move to safer locations within the country.

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has raised the alarm over a surge in press freedom violations, warning that documented cases are rising as the country heads towards the 2027 General Election.

Data from the MCK shows that 47 cases of press freedom violations against journalists were documented between July and September 2026, involving physical attacks, arrests, threats, intimidation and harassment.

The latest figures in the MCK’s Press Freedom Violations Situation Report point to a sharp rise in attacks against journalists, up from 17 cases recorded during the corresponding period in 2025 and 24 in 2024.

However, inadequate documentation of violations and victims' reluctance to pursue legal action continue to hamper efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.

MCK Manager for Press Freedom and Advocacy Rebecca Mutiso said journalists often fail to obtain police Occurrence Book (OB) numbers or P3 forms from hospitals after being attacked, leaving investigators and prosecutors without the evidence needed to pursue cases.

“When we do not have evidence to pick up a case, then it becomes a big challenge to us,” Ms Mutiso said yesterday during the commemoration of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI) 2026.

She cited reluctance among victims to pursue litigation as another obstacle, with fears of employer interference and loss of advertising revenue discouraging journalists from seeking justice.

Of the 47 documented violations, 34 involved assaults, five threats, two arrests and two cases of intimidation. Abduction, harassment and surveillance accounted for one case each.

Nairobi recorded the highest number of violations with 13 cases, followed by Homa Bay with eight, Meru with seven, Bungoma with six and Nyandarua with four.

Of the 47 cases, 36 involved male journalists, nine involved female journalists, while two involved journalists whose individual gender identities were not specified.

Strengthen accountability 

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) stressed the importance of documenting and preserving evidence of violations to strengthen accountability efforts.

KNCHR assistant director for reforms and accountability Lucas Kimanthi questioned the effectiveness of police deployment during incidents of violence, citing the attack on journalists in Ol Kalou.

“In Ol Kalou, when the first attack happened in that school, there were around 30 police officers and none of them responded,” he noted, saying the presence of security officers did not necessarily guarantee protection.

On July 16, 2026, journalists covering the parliamentary by-election in Ol Kalou Constituency, Nyandarua County, were violently attacked, beaten, and robbed by armed, masked men in SUVs and civilian clothing

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Africa Programme Coordinator Muthoki Mumo warned that the security environment for journalists in East Africa was becoming increasingly dangerous, particularly during election periods.

Citing developments in Tanzania and Uganda, she said journalists in the region were increasingly exposed to assaults, beatings and internet shutdowns that disrupt their work and undermine their safety.

She cautioned against assuming that Kenya was insulated from the threats witnessed in neighbouring countries, saying similar forces and factions were also operating locally.

“We like to think Kenya is a beacon, a haven of press freedom, but the forces and factions that have made East Africa increasingly dangerous for journalists are also operating here,” she said, urging stakeholders to anticipate potential threats ahead of the 2027 polls.

The media stakeholders highlighted that beyond legal redress, journalists facing threats also need immediate protection.

Defenders Coalition representative Obino Nyambane said the organisation provides bail and bond services to journalists and other human rights defenders facing criminalisation over their work.

It also offers emergency relocation services for journalists working in areas that have become hostile, enabling them to move to safer locations within the country.

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