DPP Keriako Tobiko yesterday snubbed journalists and refused to accept their petition concerning the harassment and killing of scribes.
The group, under the Umbrella of ScribesKenya – a network of journalists across all platforms – had marched to the DPP’s office to present the petition.
They sent five representatives – from KTN, Citizen, NTV and two freelancers – to ask him to come downstairs and address them, but Tobiko asked them to only select two representatives.
But the journalists insisted on the DPP talking to them as a group and asked the representatives to relay the message. Tobiko then responded that they were behaving like a baraza and he could not lower himself to address them.
“I cannot address a baraza. I have better things to attend to,” Tobiko said.
There have been several cases related to killing of journalists in recent days.
The scribes were protesting against harassment, assault, intimidation and threats. This comes as a Kitale-based freelance journalist, Dennis Otieno, 26, was shot dead when three people invaded his home at 11pm on Wednesday.
Journalists are calling for protection and lobbying on social media using the hashtag #JournalistsUnderSiege.
Several cases of attacks on journalists have been reported and the Media Council last month asked the DPP to prosecute politicians who assault scribes.