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Journalists have called on the IEBC and state agents to ensure their security as the country gears for the 2022 general elections.
Speaking during the annual Scribes end of year Party in Kajiado, the members of the 4th estate maintained that as messengers, their work was simply to pass the message and they should not be targets of political parties and their operatives.
This year’s event was sponsored by Amnesty International and Media Council of Kenya among others under the theme ‘Protection of Journalists for a Peaceful Election’. Amnesty International Kenya’s Ramadhan Rajab reiterated the need to protect journalists since the media plays a critical role in any democratic elections.
‘As we head to elections, we will see more and more journalists facing threats from various political players. And that should not be allowed to happen.’
The journalists used the event to reflect on the last 2 years since the pandemic started, a period that has seen many of them lose jobs and also get pay cuts…
‘Our jobs can become very stressful, and such events offer a relief for us as we gear towards the next year,’ said Roncliffe Odit of BBC who is the Scribes254 President.
Terry Nzau of Mbaitu FM was awarded as the most outstanding journalist of 2021.
The party which started Saturday 2pm went all the way to wee hours of Sunday morning, with journalist enjoying Nyama Choma and dancing their souls out.
Scribes Kenya is the first digital platform bringing together over 250 journalists including print, television, radio, online reporters and photographers working and corresponding for a broad range of outlets that have widespread reach in Kenya and beyond.
The WhatsApp Group ensures a strong influence and collaborations among journalists in Kenya that will result in robust news reporting, by providing a platform for scribes to share news assignments, contacts, interviews and peer to peer mentorship.