The Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) is demanding swift action from state authorities after the brutal assault on journalist Violet Auma of TV 47/Radio 47.
The incident, captured in a widely circulated video, shows police officers violently confronting, grabbing, and throwing the journalist as she performed her constitutional duty to cover a public protest.
In a statement released on December 6, 2025, AMWIK’s Executive Director, Queenter Mbori, condemned the attack, describing it as a shocking example of the escalating physical dangers faced by women in media.
“The Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) vehemently condemns the brutal and unwarranted assault on female journalist Violet Auma,” read part of the statement. “As clearly depicted in a widely circulated Facebook video, Ms. Auma was violently confronted, grabbed, and thrown by police officers while performing her constitutional duty of covering a public protest in Kenya.”
The organization moved beyond condemnation to deliver specific directives, starting with a demand for the Inspector General of Police to immediately identify and take disciplinary action against the officers involved.
“The Inspector General of Police must identify and take disciplinary action against the officers involved,” the statement added.
Furthermore, AMWIK has called upon the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to conduct a swift investigation into the assault.
The association also mandated the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) to ensure prosecutions are initiated to deter any future violations of journalists’ rights, framing the attack as a direct contributor to Kenya’s declining press freedom rankings and the rise in gender-based violence against media professionals.
The statement emphasized that such attacks erode democratic accountability and underscored AMWIK’s commitment to protecting the right of journalists, especially women, to work free from intimidation.
The organization called on all stakeholders, including government, media houses, civil society, and the public, to unite in creating a secure environment for journalism.
AMWIK strongly urged women journalists facing assault, harassment, or intimidation to report incidents promptly for documentation and legal support, providing contact details for the Media Council of Kenya, AMWIK itself, and the Kenya Union of Journalists.
The Association of Media Women in Kenya, established in 1982, is a national non-profit membership organization dedicated to using the media to promote an informed and gender-responsive society.
