Witness Protection Agency (WPA) trained journalists in Garissa with a view to equip them with the necessary skills to report court proceedings involving protected witnesses who might have faced threats due to the nature of their testimonies.
The training underscored the crucial role played by journalists in reporting public interest cases and the need to safeguard the rights of the accused persons and the witnesses.
With the rise of social media and digital tracking, journalists were taken through on how to mitigate the risks of unintentionally revealing witness identities or locations, which might lead to severe breaches in the security of the witnesses.
Calvin Oredi, the Public Relations and Communication Manager at WPA said that they are aiming to educate the public through the media on what witness protection entails, and its importance when it comes to law, justice systems and matters of the court.
Oredi said journalists play a very important role in the safety of the identity of the witnesses further adding that they will help spread awareness of the program and its benefits to the public.
“The meeting today with the journalists is key because we have mapped out journalists as a key sector in reaching out to the public. Through the media we can reach a wide segment of the people in not only north eastern but also the whole country,” Oredi said.
Participants were trained on ethical journalism practices, including responsible sourcing, avoiding identifiers that could expose witnesses, and handling sensitive information with discretion.
The workshop also covered best practices in communicating with law enforcement agencies when covering cases involving protected witnesses.
The training underscored the delicate balance between Press freedom and security, reinforcing the vital role that responsible journalism plays in upholding the integrity of the Witness Protection Programme.
By Grace Nyawira
