Kenya / Africa

  

Spyware installed on Kenyan filmmakers’ phones in police custody

New York, September 10, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely alarmed by the installation of spyware on two Kenyan filmmakers’ phones while the devices were in police custody, and calls on authorities to drop a case against them and two other filmmakers and ensure that journalists are not further targeted for surveillance. Forensic analysis…

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Protesters scatter as police fire teargas at them during a demonstration on the one-year anniversary of deadly anti-tax demonstrations in Nairobi, Kenya, on June 25.

Live coverage of protests banned in Kenya, at least 2 journalists injured

Nairobi, June 25, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by Kenyan authorities’ Wednesday ban on live coverage of deadly protests, in which at least two journalists were injured, and the shutdown of at least three broadcasters. Protesters took to the streets in most of Kenya’s 47 counties to mark the one-year anniversary of anti-tax…

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Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai attends a press conference after she was abducted and later released, in Nairobi, Kenya, January 13, 2025. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi

Tanzanian journalist Maria Sarungi Tsehai briefly abducted in Kenya 

Nairobi, January 14, 2025– CPJ calls on the Kenyan government to conduct a comprehensive investigation after four unknown men assaulted and abducted prominent Tanzanian journalist and human rights activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai for about four hours on Sunday in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. “With attacks on dissidents living in exile in Nairobi and a…

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A broadcast image of Kenyan journalist Catherine Wanjeri wa Kariuki after she was shot with rubber bullets while covering anti-government protests on July 16. (Screengrab: YouTube/Mutembi TV)

Kenyan journalist Catherine Wanjeri wa Kariuki shot in leg covering protests

Kampala, July 16, 2024 —Kenyan authorities must conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the July 16 shooting of journalist Catherine Wanjeri wa Kariuki as she covered ongoing protests in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Kariuki, a reporter for the privately owned Mediamax Network Ltd media group, was shot three times…

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A man in a suit stands before a news broadcast background.

Kenya court rules police unlawfully killed Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif

Kampala, July 8, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes a Kenyan court’s Monday ruling that Kenyan authorities violated Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif’s right to life and that his death was arbitrary and unconstitutional. “CPJ welcomes the Kenyan High Court’s ruling that the 2022 killing of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif was unlawful,” said Angela Quintal, head…

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Kenya security officers apprehend an activist protesting the high cost of living before government leaders proceed to the Kenyan Parliament to read the Government's Buget for the 2024/25 fiscal year in Nairobi, on June 13, 2024. Thousands of Kenyans have been protesting a proposed law under the budget that would significantly increase taxes. (Photo: AFP/Tony Karumba)

CPJ calls on Kenyan authorities to respect press freedom amid ongoing protests

Nairobi, June 25, 2024—Kenyan authorities must investigate reports of several journalists attacked while covering protests, desist from intimidating the media, and ensure reliable and secure access to the internet, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Thousands of Kenyans have taken to the streets several times since June 18 to protest a proposed law that…

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Headshot of People Daily reporter Douglas Dindi

Journalist says Kenyan official threatened to kill him over report on ambulance shortages

Kampala, June 7, 2024—Kenyan authorities should credibly investigate reports that a government official threatened to kill reporter Douglas Dindi, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Dindi, who works with the People Daily newspaper, told CPJ that on May 20, David Alilah, Chief Officer of Medical Services in Kenya’s western Kakamega County, threatened to kill…

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CPJ calls for investigation of attack on 5 Kenyan journalists reporting a raid on Nairobi bar

Nairobi, January 8, 2024—In response to news reports that private security personnel assaulted and harassed at least five journalists covering a January 5 raid on a bar in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, by police and drug enforcement officers, the Committee to Protect Journalists has urged a transparent and immediate investigation. “Authorities should swiftly investigate assaults…

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Kenyan government minister Moses Kuria insults, threatens Nation Media Group

Nairobi, June 21, 2023—In response to Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Trade and Industry Moses Kuria’s derogatory remarks and threats of economic sanctions against the privately owned Nation Media Group, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “The vile insults and threats that Kenya’s trade minister Moses Kuria hurled at the Nation Media Group…

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CPJ, 14 organizations call on Kenyan authorities to expedite investigations into killing of journalist Arshad Sharif

CPJ and 14 human rights organizations and press associations issued a joint statement on Tuesday, May 2, calling on Kenyan authorities to expedite investigations into the killing of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif and to ensure accountability in a transparent judicial process. In October 2022, Kenyan police said an officer fatally shot Sharif in Kajiado County…

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