Two journalists working for Nation Media Group (NMG) have raised serious concerns about their safety after airing a documentary that exposed a controversial church in Nairobi.
The journalists allege that they started receiving suspicious phone calls shortly after the broadcast, leading them to believe their lives might be in danger.
The two media professionals, Ibrahim Karanja and Frederick Muitiriri, were part of the team behind the investigative documentary titled Sacred Swindlers, which aired on NTV on Sunday, May 25.
The exposé revealed how a private organization, operating under the name Yahweh Media Services, was allegedly deceiving members of the public by running gambling activities under the disguise of religious worship.
According to the journalists, they began receiving multiple phone calls on Monday, May 26, from unknown numbers. In each case, the caller would remain completely silent, which they found deeply unsettling.
The journalists suspect the callers are connected to the people featured in the exposé and believe the calls were meant to intimidate or threaten them.
In response to the alarming situation, Nation Media Group took official action by writing a formal letter to Nairobi Regional Commander George Seda. In the letter, the media house urged the police to investigate the threatening calls and to ensure the safety of the reporters involved. The letter emphasized that the threats appeared to be directly linked to the Sacred Swindlers exposé and requested immediate action from law enforcement.
“This is therefore to formally record the perceived threats to the safety and lives of the said reporters, and to request investigations into the sources of the threats,” the letter to Commander Seda read.
The Sacred Swindlers documentary uncovered how many innocent Kenyans were allegedly manipulated and financially exploited under the pretense of receiving miracles and divine intervention.
The exposé showed that people were convinced to gamble in the hope of bettering their lives spiritually and financially, only to be left devastated and out of pocket.
The so-called preacher involved in the scheme reportedly operated with a well-planned strategy that preyed on the faith and desperation of his followers.
Following the airing of the documentary, the government quickly responded. The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) took action against Yahweh Media Services, officially suspending its operations.
The CA stated that the organization was among 33 broadcasters found to be in breach of broadcasting regulations, particularly for promoting gambling content without proper licensing.
“Even with the directives to suspend advertising of all gambling-related content, a review by the Authority revealed the continued airing of such prohibited content by some broadcasters,” the CA said in a public statement.
This incident has added to a growing list of cases where Kenyan journalists have faced threats after publishing or airing sensitive stories. Just last year in July, several Citizen TV journalists reported receiving threats for covering the anti-finance bill protests.
In that case, the threats were delivered through anonymous fliers shared across social media platforms, targeting news anchors and reporters.
The increasing threats against journalists have raised concerns over press freedom and the safety of media professionals in the country.
Media watchdogs and civil rights groups have continued to call on authorities to take such threats seriously and provide protection for journalists who risk their lives to report the truth.
As investigations into the recent threats continue, NMG and the wider journalistic community are hoping that swift and decisive action will be taken to guarantee the safety and security of journalists in Kenya.
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