Kenya: Armed Group Threaten Namukabo Werungah and Team
Former BBC reporter reveals life-threatening encounter while on assignment
Location: Kenya
Date: February 3, 2024
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom stands in unyielding solidarity with Namukabo Werungah and her team who were surrounded by an armed group, trapped and threatened while on assignment in Kenya, on February 3. Despite meticulous preparation and risk assessment, they found themselves in a life-threatening encounter. Their experience sheds light on the grave challenges faced by journalists and underscores the vital role of swift response from authorities in ensuring their safety. It is unacceptable for journalists to face such intimidation and threats while performing their crucial role in society. The swift intervention by the police undoubtedly saved lives and highlights the critical need for prompt response from authorities to ensure the safety of journalists in perilous situations. We vehemently denounce the aggression faced by Werungah and her team and call for a unified stance against threats to journalistic safety.
On February 3, 2024, journalist for The New Humanitarian, Namukabo Werungah, shared a dangerous encounter she and her reporting team faced while on location. Without mentioning the specific area where the attack occurred, the journalist said she and her crew had a lucky escape when an armed group surrounded them.
Werungah and her team embarked on their assignment after meticulous groundwork and risk assessment. Despite their preparedness, they faced a crowd of 20-30 people initially, which rapidly escalated to over 100. What began as curiosity turned hostile when a single person became suspicious of the journalists.
"We explained why we were there, but he didn't believe us and started making serious accusations. Suddenly, everyone in the crowd believed him, and things quickly became violent. We offered to leave, but they would not let us," recalls Werungah.
“While pleading for our lives (...), we requested that they take us to the police rather than kill us”
Even diplomatic attempts to engage with the crowd failed. Despite explaining their purpose, the crowd started barricading their car tires with stones and threatening violence. The crowd openly discussed ways to harm or kill the journalists, including burning, stoning, or using crude weapons against them.
Pleas for their lives, coupled with requests to be taken to the police, escalated the danger. "While pleading for our lives (at this time, we are surrounded by hundreds of people), we requested that they take us to the police rather than kill us,” explains Werungah. “This aggravated them even more because it confirmed their suspicions that we were working with authorities. Our request to be taken to the area chief was met with the same hostility.”
"Almost 20 minutes in, I realized that we might not make it out of there alive," Werungah recounts.
Fortunately, the police responded quickly to the situation and secured the journalists' freedom with the assistance of the Media Council of Kenya.
“Almost 20 minutes in, I realized that we might not make it out of there alive”
The attack on Namukabo Werungah and her crew serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for protection to ensure the safety of journalists. With a career adorned with accolades and impactful contributions, Werungah's ordeal underscores the sobering reality that even seasoned and well-prepared journalists can find themselves in life-threatening situations while fulfilling their duty to inform the public. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom urges heightened awareness of the challenges faced by journalists, particularly women in the field. We commend the swift response from police and the intervention of media regulatory bodies. It is imperative that there are collective efforts to safeguard journalists navigating risky situations when reporting on the ground.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help women career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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