The attack on journalists covering Madaraka Day celebrations in Homa Bay has left a dark stain on Kenya’s national conscience.

It is also an attack on democracy and an unacceptable affront to press freedom.

Happening on the day Kenya attained self-rule (Madaraka) after independence a year earlier, the nasty incident has drawn national outrage and condemnation.

Press freedom was an integral part of the freedom struggle and played a big role in accelerating the march to independence and ensuring transparency and accountability in the post-independence era.

Ominously for the Kenyan journalist fraternity and the media space in general, the attack in Homa Bay followed two disturbing but related incidents.

One was The Standard newspaper journalists being denied access to cover a State House event hosted by President William Ruto and attended by visiting Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar.

The other is the arrest and detention of branding and IT specialist Rose Njeri, 35, who was picked up by security agents on Friday, May 30, 2025, for creating a website that enlightens the public on the Finance Bill, 2025.

Njeri, exercising the right of freedom of expression enshrined in the Constitution, is accused of encouraging Kenyans to reject the bill ahead of the reading of the budget.

Users can submit their feedback directly to the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly and the Parliamentary Finance Committee.

Human rights groups have said the arrest signals an alarming trend of criminalising digital civic engagement.

Alarmingly, Njeri was arrested days before the first anniversary of the popular Gen Z mass protests that rocked the nation and shook the political establishment to its core.

Combined, these incidents paint a gloomy picture for democracy and freedom of expression and are a sharp indictment of the State for its unhealthy relationship with the media and blatant acts of intimidation against journalists.

It calls upon journalists to stand up for their rights enshrined in the Constitution in defence of democracy and freedom of the press as the public watchdog amid national and international outrage against these constitutional violations.

Journalists are the guardians of leadership and integrity, with the responsibility of holding power to account, and that includes all three arms of government – the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary.

Journalists have a massive potential to mount far-reaching legal action against the State and against violations that impact profoundly on their rights and welfare.

But first, they must recognise their constitutional rights as workers, just like all other workers.

It is time for media associations like the Kenya Union of Journalists, the Kenya Correspondents Association and the Kenya Editors Guild to actively promote solidarity among journalists in standing for their rights.

Journalists must also join and fully participate in the activities of their representative associations to prevent the erosion of their rights.

A society devoid of free speech, freedom of information and independent media risks uninformed decision-making, underscoring the connection of expression with access to information, belief, opinion, media freedom, association, protest and voting rights.

The writer comments on constitutional affairs.