By Eva Krafczyk / Democracy News Alliance
Nairobi serves as a haven for journalists in East Africa fleeing state persecution. Many are able to continue their work there using digital media in relative freedom. Among them is Natnael Gecho, the founder and chief editor of WT Media, who shares his flight, his work for freedom of speech, and the ongoing challenges of reporting in exile.
Natnael took his laptop and phone, some clothes and toiletries, and headed down the long road to Moyale, the border town between Kenya and his Ethiopian homeland. The journalist did not have a passport, just his national ID. But he managed to negotiate his way into the neighbouring country.
Leaving Ethiopia was a must for Gecho, who ran a news platform with stories on human rights topics and marginalized communities in his home region in Southern Ethiopia.
“I left because of persecution and arrests,” he explains during a meeting in a coworking space in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. “They tried to kill me many times. They arrested me many times, the government, I mean.”
Gecho had worked for both government and private media before he founded Wolaita Times, which is now operated as WT Media.
High Hopes in Ethiopia’s Administration Disappointed
Like many of his colleagues, he placed high hopes in Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed when he came to power in 2018. Abiy, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for peace efforts with Eritrea in 2019, initiated some political reforms, but the climate of change did not last long.
“We hoped we would have a good space for freedom of speech. But within one year, he changed everything,” Gecho says.
“He started arresting journalists, activists; the ones who are trying to write something freely. So freedom of speech is tightened; it’s narrowed. So many media have been shut down; even many Ethiopian journalists are in jail.”
Continuing his work in Ethiopia was increasingly difficult and dangerous. “I decided to leave. Since then, I have continued my job here in exile.”
That was December 2022. Gecho’s family managed to follow later, and he has since been recognized as a refugee in Kenya.
Nairobi: A Hub for Regional Journalists Fleeing Persecution
Gecho is not the only journalist forced into exile. Over recent years, Nairobi has become a hub for East African journalists fleeing conflict and persecution. Some came only to find temporary shelter, aiming to return as soon as circumstances allow. Others came to the realization that going back means risking their lives.
They come from Ethiopia and Sudan, from Tanzania and Uganda, from the Democratic Republic of Congo and from Somalia. Nairobi, with its international mix, is seen as a place for a fresh start.
The Baraza Media Lab, where the meeting with Gecho took place, hosts the Exile Media Hub, which opened in cooperation with Media in Cooperation and Transition (MiCT), the International Press Association of East Africa (IPAEA), and financial support from the German Foreign Office. The hub aims to be a safe space providing coworking areas, podcast studios, and equipment for journalists to get the support they need.
But even Nairobi is not necessarily a safe haven. “They try to kidnap, to silence, to hack the media,” Gecho says in reference to security forces. He has moved several times within Nairobi because of this, leaving a neighbourhood with a big Ethiopian community as he did not feel sure whom he could trust.
Challenges in Kenya Too
It is not all easy going for journalists in Kenya either, especially those critical of the government. During recent protests, journalists covering demonstrations often found themselves attacked, teargassed, and hit by water cannons while doing their job.
“I know there is a challenge, but still, the media can cover the voice of people,” Gecho says, comparing the situation of journalists in Ethiopia and Kenya. “No media licenses have been suspended. Still, it’s good here.”
It is certainly better than in most countries in the region. Across East Africa, governments and non-state actors have intensified crackdowns on the media through shutdowns, arbitrary detentions, and weaponized criminal justice systems. Human rights organizations continue to sound the alarm as press freedom faces a severe squeeze amid low media revenues.
Making an Impact from a Phone
Where media are gagged, civil society actors and journalists find ways to connect and inform via social media platforms. As a lot of activism has transferred to the digital space, journalists like Gecho can work for their readers, listeners, and viewers using online tools.
Reflecting on the journey, Gecho emphasizes a core message: “They can drive you out of your country, but they can’t shut you up. There are many options, like a website, Facebook, Telegram. Because it’s online, I was able to take my media with me. I can make an impact from my phone. With a little commitment and willingness, you can achieve your goals despite the challenges.”
(Source: Originally published by Eva Krafczyk for the Democracy News Alliance. Read the original coverage here.)
