The three journalists who got into a fight on Sunday during an event in Siaya County that resulted in one of them getting hurt has been denounced by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK).
The fight between journalists from The Star newspaper, K24 television, and Royal Media Services, according to a statement released by MCK Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo on Tuesday, puts their credibility as professionals in jeopardy.
“The Council unequivocally condemns all forms of violence, including those perpetrated by members of the press against their own or on members of the public. Journalists resorting to physical fights and engaging in slander not only jeopardizes their professional credibility but also undermines the principles of responsible journalism,” he said.
After The Star published an article about the event, the Council issued additional warnings to media outlets cautioning them against running biased reports on the subject.
“The Council is ready to offer its support and assistance to the journalists involved in this incident. We encourage them to seek mediation or other forms of conflict resolution to address the underlying issues and prevent future violence. Further, we urge media houses to stop publishing one-sided stories written by the respective employees as this causes more confusion and veils facts during a conflict,” said Omwoyo.
MCK stated that it has looked into the situation and advised the parties concerned to face consequences.
The event has already been looked into by the Council, which encourages the relevant media outlets to look into it thoroughly and take the necessary disciplinary action.
“The Council has already investigated the incident and urges the relevant media organizations to equally undertake a comprehensive investigation and take appropriate disciplinary action against those invoked. Any accredited journalists engaged in such altercations risk losing their registration with the Council, Journalists have a responsibility to conduct themselves with integrity and decorum, even in the face of aggression.” noted the MCK chair.
