Right groups condemn arrest of Citizen TV journalist Francis Ode

Ode was waylaid by ununiformed police officers while on assignment at Kimathi Street in Nairobi CBD. 

The journalist was briefly detained at Central Police Station, then released without any official processing. 

Now, the Defenders Coalition has condemned the harassment, physical assault and arrest of Ode on Mashujaa Day. 

The rights body raised concerns about the use of force and intimidation against journalists while in their line of duty. 

“We reiterate that the act of documenting a demonstration does not make a journalist a participant in the protest, nor does it justify harassment, assault, intimidation or arbitrary arrest for participants. Journalists must be allowed to carry out their work without fear of violence, detention or retaliation for reporting on matters of public interest,” the coalition said in a press statement on Thursday. 

Similar sentiments were shared by a group of activists in Nairobi, who issued a 7-day ultimatum to the Independent Police Oversight Authority and the Director of Public Prosecutions to take action against police officers undermining media freedom in the country. 

Led by Odhiambo Ojiro, the activists have called for a quick response and action by the relevant authorities.

The human rights defenders said a threat to media freedom risks clawing back the democratic gains in the country.

IPOA has since begun investigations into the arrest and harassment of the journalist while on duty. 

IPOA on Thursday announced plans to visit Central Police Station as part of ongoing investigations into the arrest of Ode.

The authority said the visit will examine relevant police records and obtain accounts from the police officers deployed to manage public order during the protests.