President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Faith Odhiambo has called for an investigation after Mediamax journalist Catherine Wanjeri Kairuki stated that she has been receiving threats from unknown individuals.
Taking to her official X account on Monday, September 2, 2024, Odhiambo said that relevant authorities should start investigating Wanjeri’s claims.
She further pointed out that the media should not be intimidated, more so when a victim of police brutality is involved.
“This should be investigated, the media should not be intimidated especially a victim of police brutality!” Odhiambo stated.
This should be investigated, the media should not be intimidated especially a victim of police brutality! @DCI_Kenya @ODPP_KE @IPOA_KE https://t.co/uTQpcxcpFB
— Faith Odhiambo (@FaithOdhiambo8) September 2, 2024
Mediamax journalist ѕhot
Wanjeri became a victim of police brutality on July 16, 2024, when she was ѕhot by the police in Nakuru town during the Gen Z-led anti-government protests.
On Monday, September 2, 2024, the Kameme and K24 TV reporter came out to reveal that she was fearing for her life following the threats she had been receiving through her phone.
Wanjeri shared that she has been receiving threatening messages and calls, which she believes are related to the ongoing investigation into her shooting.
She has since recorded a statement at the Nakuru Central police station over the threats.
“Mimi kama binadamu nitakuwa na uoga, haswa mwanamke. Sasa mimi nikipigiwa na mwanamume na aniambie hivi, saa moja huwezi toka kwa nyumba. Unaishi pekee yako kwa hivo kutoka kwa nyumba itakuwa ngumu. Pili unahofia familia yako ju kama huyo mtu hatakufikia na anajua kwenye familia yako iko, si ataiendea? (I am worried, especially as a lady living alone. If a man calls me, I’m too afraid to leave the house. I also fear for my family because if that person will not be able to reach me, he will go after my family),” Wanjeri stated.
Wanjeri on dropping the case
She went ahead to reveal that she had been contemplating dropping the case over the threats she had been receiving.
“Nimecontemplate kuachana na hii kesi ju unajua sasa ukiachana na kesi, huyo mtu ameacha kukuandama. But I think the back up yenye nimepata kutoka kwa the Nakuru Journalists Association, ju mostly, I would like to commend the chairman and the association as a whole kwa sababu wamekuwa wakipush hii kesi ata nikiwa hospitalini. Mimi focus yangu ilikuwa kuheal. Intention ya vitisho ni niachane na hii kesi lakini kulingana na wenye wamenishikilia itakuwa ni to let them down (I have been contemplating dropping this case so they will stop harassing me, but the support I’ve received from the Nakuru Journalists Association has been significant. They continued pushing the case even when I was in the hospital, giving me enough time to recover. Dropping the case would be letting them down),” Wanjeri said.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Renson Ingonga, directed the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the shooting, but the officer involved has yet to be identified.
