Cases of journalists attack in the country have been on the rise with 22 cases being reported between March and April 2020.

According to Article 19 Eastern Africa, Nairobi and Mombasa are currently the main hot spots with Nairobi recording 13 cases and Mombasa 6. 

Turkana has so far witnessed 4 cases with other counties recording between 3 and 1 cases each.

''These attacks were carried out by security agents, government officials, and organised mobs - including primary school pupils in a manner that clearly demonstrates a sustained effort to stifle and control the press, and limit the free flow of information in 22 Counties'' reads a statement from Article 19 Regional Director Mugambi Kiai.

In the statement, Kiai also noted that the number of attacks on journalists rose from 53 between May 2019 and April 2020 to 59 cases of attacks, harassment, intimidation.

Kiai charged ''Attacks on journalists increased significantly in the first quarter of 2020 with recorded cases reaching 36, this was at the height of Coronavirus pandemic across the country''. 

Kiai also named the coronavirus health crisis, corruption and the 2022 succession politics as the most sensitive stories for journalists to cover in 2020 in Kenya. 

He further called on the government to uphold freedom of the media and to end attacks on journalists carrying out their work noting that most cases of attacks are rarely investigated.

The revelations come as journalists around the globe mark the World Press Freedom Day under the theme of Journalism Without Fear and Favour.