NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 4- Kenya’s Premier Security, Human Rights and Governance Association was on Thursday launched in a colorful event attended by ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru and investigative journalist Allan Namu.
Also present were Amnesty International-Kenya Executive Director Houghton Irungu, Independent Medico-Legal Unit Executive Director Peter Kiama and International Justice Mission-Kenya (IJM) country director Benson Shamala, among others.
The Association which started as a 5 member WhatsApp group, five years ago was registered in December 2020.
“This event is a culmination of collective effort which began five years ago when a group of journalists reporting on crime and security resolved to promote professional and accountable crime and investigative journalism,” CJAK chairperson Dominic Wabala said.
“We realized the need to bring to out the importance and significance of the crime beat which has in recent years witnessed an increase in interest of upcoming young journalists of both genders.”
And with the establishment of the association, he said more female journalists were now willing to join what has been a male dominated field.
“The membership is drawn from print, electronic and digital journalists attached to mainstream media houses and freelance journalists with keen interest in security, human rights, governance and criminal justice system,” he added.
Wabala revealed that the Association is in the process of setting up a Secretariat that will consist a Newsroom, “for our news arm.”
Further, he said “At any given time, Shahidi News shall be having 6 interns who will be mentored by our seasoned journalists.”
“We are specifically keen on recruiting those from the rural areas, including those reporting for community-based media houses. We want to create a movement of young journalists, who passes through our hands, who will not only be professional but with ideals anchored on respect for human rights and integrity.”
CS Mucheru committed to supporting the association, saying though “young, it is promising. I am optimistic that the Association will be the public’s reference of excellence in journalism, and that it will provide a framework to enable peer accountability and promote independent journalism.”
“That is why I must commend CJAK for starting an online news platform, shahidinews.co.ke, which I understand has offered opportunity to not only your members, but also other journalists.”
-The future of Journalism-
“Criminals are everywhere, criminals are here and they are collaborating with others to hide their crime. Collaborative and investigative journalism as proposed by the association is very important today,” investigative reporter, Namu said during the launch.
He challenged CJAK members and journalists across the country to remain true to the calling of journalism, by speaking truth to the power.
“Five years when we launched African Uncensored, we didn’t think we would have an opportunity to collaborate with other journalists like this,” Namu said.
He said journalists must seek to “provide deep and analytical journalism and this is only possible through collaboration.”
“The crime journalists of the past are not the one of today, you have to have and use different resources,” he added.
Kiama hailed CJAK leadership led by Wabala and Secretary General Joseph Muraya for convening such an occasion, which he said was a great milestone for journalism in the country.
“This country, this world of ours is suffering from one great poverty. The poverty of leaders. We have more of us scattering the ship than convening the ship. I am proud of this group for convening us,” he said.
He urged partners to support the CJAK Mental Wellness Day, a quarterly event seeking to promote mental health among crime reporters and other journalists across the country.
“You are taking journalism in Kenya to the next level,” he said. “We need healthy journalists.”
Shamala said journalists had a crucial role of not only shaping the public opinion but also to highlight ills of the society.
“You have immense powers; you have the power of the pen. I want to caution you to it objectively because that can have an impact on our human rights,” the IJM-Kenya Country Director said.
DCI Kinoti said journalists and CJAK has an integral role to play in crime management of the country.
He committed to ensure seamless flow of information at the critical institution.
“Journalists are called the fourth estate for the crucial role they play in the criminal justice sector,” the DCI said.
-Free expression is non-negotiable-
Speaking during the launch, the Amnesty International-Kenya Executive decried the declining press freedom in the country.
He lamented that, “unfortunately, Kenya has been back-sliding on the World Press Freedom Index for the last three years. Restrictive Security Laws Act amendments, the excessive Computer and Cyber-crimes Act, broadcasting directives, shutdowns and attacks on journalists drive this.”
“It is actions like these that cost us 3 places and earned us the disappointing rank of 103rd in the world in 2020. Ethiopia, by contrast, has jumped 11 places ahead to the position of 99th.”
With a worrying trend of misinformation, fake news and polarizing toxicity, he pointed out that the role of journalists will be critical, for truth to prevail.
“At its essence, journalism is an act of truth-telling. Both state agencies, human rights organizations must support you better to generate accurate and timely national and local information. Both state agencies, human rights organizations can do better to keep you politically and financially independent.”
As the country gears towards a presidential election, he urged investigative authorities to commit to protect journalists.
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