SECURITY BRIEFING
18th December 2015, Kenyan media stakeholders ad especially reporters have been called upon to report accurately more so in matters touching security.
When reporting issues related to terrorism, accuracy is paramount as these matters are sensitive to national security.
Speaking at a workshop on Thursday, Kenyan security agents warned of relaying inaccurate reports which are not substantiated.
An example was given of painting police as brutal and involved in extra-judicial killings and forced disappearances without prove is likely to discourage anti-terror officers to the advantage of the terrorists.
Another unfortunate reporting was done indicating Mandera had mass graves, and upon further probe by security agents glare of local and international media no mass graves were found.
This reporting can create tension those security officers as targeting citizens from a certain ethnicity contrary to police objective of providing security to all.
Media should be Kenya’s strong partner in nation building. The members of the fourth estate were challenged to disseminate accurate information.
National Police Service spokesman George Kinoti speaking during a workshop that brought together media practitioners and security agents from the National Police, Kenya Defence Forces and Interior ministry challenged the Kenyan media to emulate their west counterpart kind of reporting whereby they tend to give terrorists a blackout and do not highlight anything positive about them.
Kinoti encouraged the media to forge a closer working relationship with security agencies, particularly when reporting sensitive issues.
He too challenged human rights organizations to come out in condemning terrorists whenever they kill civilians and security personnel, contrary to just highlighting claims of police brutality on terror suspects.
