UNESCO urges investigations into killing of KBC journalist Barasa
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) Director-General Audrey Azoulay has called on the Kenyan authorities to investigate on the murder of television journalist Betty Barasa.
The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) journalist was shot dead by armed gunmen at her home in Ololua area, Ngong on April 7.
In a press statement, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay condemned the killing of Betty saying gunpoint censorship must not be allowed to undermine journalists’.
“I condemn the killing of Betty Barasa. I call on the authorities to investigate this crime and determine whether it was linked to Barasa’s profession as a journalist,” he condemned.
He added that gunpoint censorship must not be allowed to undermine journalists’ ability to carry out their work.
Senior video editor and producer for the public television KBC, Barasa was accosted by three men outside her house as she was returning from work.
They forced their way into her home, held the journalist’s family hostage, and ransacked the premises before killing Betty Barasa.
She was on Wednesday afternoon laid to rest in a private burial at her home in Ololua, Ngong.
Barasa was eulogized as a caring and loving mother, wife, friend and colleague.
Widower Geoffrey Namasanja eulogized his wife as the bond that stuck their family.
“I met Betty in April of 2004 and we wedded in April 2014, ten years later. The killers took her life in April. The month of April means a lot to me, she is my wife and my pillar,” he said.
