By Elizabeth Angira, Dev Reporter, Kisii County
Safety and protection of journalists remain areas of undisputed importance as it directly relates to the lives of each individual journalists.
The safety of journalists is also especially paramount during the electioneering period and the Kisii County Commander Francis Kooli now urges journalist to be especially vigilant before, during and after the August poll.
In a session with security officers and journalists where rehearsals and checking levels of preparedness that took place at Gusii stadium, the county commander reiterated the importance of the security of journalists.
Mr Kooli said that the main aim of the rehearsal was to check their capacity and levels of prepared to manage crowds and the evacuation of VIPs during any period of lawlessness.
“in situations where the public break the law, it is the role of security officers to provide security,” says Kooli.
He said that at such times, journalist should converge at the exit route.
According to him, journalists tend to be very vulnerable at such times and often undecided as to where they could go to keep safe.
For Journalists based in Kisii County, the training is especially crucial since they have a tendency to clash with police officers and the public when riots arise.
Mr Kooli advises media houses yet to provide safety gears to the journalist to do so but by following the right procedures.
The journalists applauded the police officers for the training and vowed to pursue mutual cooperation.
