Kenya: KNCHR Raises Alarm Over Attacks On Journalists As Kenya Records 92 Press Freedom Violations

What the report says

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has warned that attacks on journalists in Kenya are putting the public’s right to information at risk and weakening democratic accountability, according to a Capital FM report distributed by AllAfrica. The commission said violence and intimidation against media workers make it harder for them to report freely and independently, especially when they are trying to establish facts on issues of public interest.

The warning comes as Kenya’s Media Council reports 92 verified press freedom violations in 2025. The KNCHR said physical assaults made up 67% of those cases, indicating that direct violence remained the most common threat facing journalists. The figures were cited from the Media Council’s State of Media Freedom in Kenya 2026 report.

In its statement, the commission called for prompt, impartial and effective investigations into crimes against journalists and urged authorities to hold not only the perpetrators but also those who plan or organize such attacks to account. It also pressed the government and other institutions to shield journalists from physical, digital and legal harassment.

The broader concern, as outlined in the report, is that press freedom violations can limit access to information and restrict oversight of public affairs. KNCHR said a safe environment for journalism is essential to freedom of expression, human rights and democratic governance.