Kenya Celebrates World Press Freedom Day amid Covid-19 Blow

Since March 2020 when the first Covid-19 case was reported in Kenya, many journalists have been reporting from the front line of this health crisis where too many have faced intimidation and violence.

Most journalists have also succumbed to coronavirus due to the nature of the job.

According to rights groups, over 600 journalists in the country have been retrenched, others have endured pay cuts while others endure long delays in salary payment during the pandemic.

A report published in September 2020 by a human rights organization that promotes freedom of expression indicated that at least 48 journalists had been attacked or restrained from doing their work during the pandemic.

Taking to her Twitter account on Monday, May 3, Jane Marriott, the British High Commissioner to Kenya said, “Media freedom is the beating heart of a functioning democracy. We need an independent and sustainable media, with laws, policies, and professionals to serve society.”

This year’s World Press Freedom Day theme is Information as a Public Good which is a call to affirm the importance of valuing information and exploring what can be done in the production, distribution, and reception of content to strengthen journalism, and to advance transparency and empowerment while leaving no one behind.