Kenyan journalists attacked in riots

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2013/jan/24/journalist-safety-kenya

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Two Kenyan journalists were assaulted by officers from Kenya's paramilitary force while covering riots in the poor Nairobi district of Kibera.

Dennis Okeyo, a photographer with the Daily Nation, and John Otanga, a Nation TV cameraman, said officers from the general service unit (GSU) confiscated memory cards from their cameras and took other valuables.

Fred Mukinda, a Nation reporter who witnessed the incident, said Okeyo was beaten after showing the officers his press card. Otanga was struck on the head as he attempted to help his colleague. Both received hospital treatment.

In a similar incident days before, journalists from Citizen TV were barred by GSU officers from covering political nominations in Nairobi. The Media Council of Kenya has now set up a press freedom monitoring portal to record incidents of violence against journalists.

<em>Sources:</em> Daily Nation/The Star