Kenya’s gallant journalists pursued the story. Amid obstruction, beatings, arrests and intimidation by police they refused to stop reporting the nationwide protests against the Finance Bill 2024. Journalists were in the midst of it all, witnessing and recording history.
“Bearing witness is a crucial marker of a responsible press and media. It brings to light the unnecessary suffering and hardship of those rendered voiceless and disposable, as well as the underlying forces that produce such conditions, McMaster University scholar Henry A Giroux writes.
“Bearing witness does not guarantee justice, but it provides the awareness necessary to turn propaganda against itself and mobilise people to function as a collective force of resistance.”
To paraphrase the words of the American civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., the true measure of a journalist is not how he or she works in moments of comfort and convenience but how he or she responds to the call of duty at times of controversy and challenges.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, you did well!
Now, one incident marred coverage of the anti-tax protests. It is a stinking failure.
The Star newspaper’s main story on June 27 was headlined, “Inside Tuesday’s night of carnage in Githurai”. Scary.
“The apocalyptic tales suggest that law enforcement authorities had declared a curfew in the area as protesters attempted to storm and overrun a police station, with a section of them itching for the armoury and with that invited vengeful reprisal from police, precipitating a bloodletting.”
What followed? “Unknown number of deaths resulted, with Law Society of Kenya president Faith Odhiambo estimating it to be near 100 civilians,” the report said.
“John Ochieng’, a medical supplies specialist, said the shooting spree went beyond Githurai area, deep into the villages, and estimated that as many as 120 people could have been killed.” A separate headline screamed, “Death toll rises: Githurai casualties overwhelm KNH.”
The LSK president Odhiambo told a press conference that, “We call upon the international community to conduct independent investigations on the massacre meted on the residents of Githurai, Nairobi, on the night of June 25, 2024.”
But there was no “massacre” in Githurai. No curfew. The Star stories appeared on Thursday, meaning Lion Place journos had Wednesday to verify the rumours. They didn’t.
“But a BBC investigation has found no evidence of mass killings in Githurai – raising questions about how readily misinformation can spread amid a crisis,” the broadcaster stated.
“BBC Verify found that old videos filmed in 2022 were being reshared on social media, purporting to show protesters walking along a street carrying flaming torches at this week’s protests. The BBC Global Disinformation Unit had previously investigated the clip and discovered that it was recorded in Ghana two years ago.”
Africa Uncensored, co-founded by Kenya’s foremost investigative journalist John Allan-Namu, concurred with the BBC. “We spoke with Njoki Gachanja from Githurai Social Justice Centre. She confirmed that, while there was significant police violence and multiple gunshots heard throughout the night, contrary to the circulating reports, there was no massacre in Githurai. Tragically, one person died in the scuffle.”
In a video clip posted by Africa Uncensored, Njoki, the coordinator of GSJC, says, “We woke up to the trending news that there was a whole massacre in Githurai. First of all, I would like to confirm that I live in Githurai. There is no massacre in Githurai.”
Truth is the first casualty of war (or any conflict, including campus food riots and family fights). Wars are not fought only in the battlefields but also on the platforms of information and communication. The ‘fundamendoo’ role of journalism at all times, but particularly in times of major conflicts, is to pick the grain from the gales of chaff churned by both sides.
Chambilecho wahenga, kila mwamba ngoma ngozi huivutia kwake. Each side of a conflict wants to control the narrative. Look how evil that side is! Now, you see why we took this action? Propaganda is a critical part of conflict.
At no other time is journalistic independence ‘importanter’ than when there are competing claims over an emotive issue, like now. In such charged and often rapidly evolving situations, the journalist takes a step back, remains alert, questions and tries to verify everything. This is exactly the astute professional Rudyard Kipling has in mind in his famous poem, If (read it here).
If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, you’ll be a great journalist.
See you next week!
