MOMBASA, Kenya – The Centre for Litigation Trust has warned that journalists’ safety is increasingly under threat as the country heads toward the 2027 General Election.
As journalists in Kenya held processions to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI), the lobby said impunity against the media remains entrenched globally and locally.
Executive Director Julius Ogogoh said journalists continue to face systemic violence, arbitrary arrests and unlawful surveillance as they carry out their work.
“Today, we confront a chilling reality. Globally and locally, the culture of impunity remains largely unchecked, leaving journalists exposed,” said Ogogoh.
The lobby warned that political polarisation and weak accountability mechanisms ahead of the high-stakes 2027 polls pose an existential threat to independent journalism.
“A free press is the bedrock of credible elections and constitutional democracy. Yet, the safety of media workers is increasingly compromised by those seeking to control the public narrative through fear and coercion,” he said.
The Centre flagged three critical areas requiring urgent intervention.
On electoral safety, the lobby said there is an alarming rise in physical and verbal threats against journalists as political activities intensify.
It called on state security agencies to establish proactive protection mechanisms for media workers before, during and after the electoral cycle.
The lobby also noted that globally, nearly 85% of crimes against journalists go unpunished. In Kenya, it said, sluggish investigations and political interference continue to shield perpetrators.
It urged the Judiciary and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to fast-track all pending cases involving assaults on journalists.
“Impunity thrives when justice is delayed,” read the lobby’s statement in part.
The group raised concern over technology-facilitated threats, including state-sponsored surveillance, orchestrated online harassment and AI-driven attacks targeting journalists.
It particularly condemned gender-based online attacks designed to silence women journalists, warning that digital spaces must not become lawless domains for intimidation.
The Trust reaffirmed its commitment to providing strategic legal support and public interest litigation to defend media practitioners. It called on civil society, the Media Council of Kenya and international partners to unite against erosion of press freedom.
Quoting UNESCO, Ogogoh said strong democracies need informed citizens, journalists who work freely and independently, and a media landscape where diverse voices are heard.
“We cannot safeguard democracy if we fail to protect the messengers. The state must break the cycle of impunity now,” he said.
The Centre for Litigation Trust is a Pan-African public interest law centre based in Kenya that focuses on human rights, constitutionalism and rule-of-law advocacy.
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