By Dominic imbuga (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The Kenya Editors Guild has threatened to halt all parliamentary coverage unless Clerk of the National Assembly Joseph Bundi reverses a decision to throw journalists out of parliament’s media centre.
HumanIPO reported yesterday the Kenyan parliament had morning kicked out parliamentary journalists, who will from now on only be allowed into the House on an invite basis.
In a statement, the Kenya Editors Guild termed the action as shocking, and claimed it was linked to the reprisals promised by House Majority Leader Aden Duale following coverage of MPs’ demands for increased pay.
The guild threatened to stop parliamentary coverage unless “unhindered access of the media is restored to normalcy”.
“We would like to remind the House bureaucracy and the Members alike that coverage of the Parliament is not a favour bestowed on the media,” said the statement.
“The Guild will consider asking media houses halt all coverage of Parliamentary proceedings until the environment for free and unhindered media access is restored.
“We do not believe for a moment the explanation by National Assembly Clerk Joseph Bundi that the space is required for use by parliamentary committees. It is instructive that the action comes shortly after the House Majority Leader Aden Duale threatened reprisals against the media in reaction to unfavorable coverage over MPs demands for increased pay.”
The editor’s said the ejection was retrogressive, dictatorial and “totally unacceptable in a modern, progressive and democratic society”.
Meanwhile the Kenya Media Council met with MPs today morning and expressed its displeasure with the actions of the National Assembly. Another meeting is set for June 21, when the MPs will meet with media owners and editors.
HumanIPO reported yesterday the Kenyan parliament had morning kicked out parliamentary journalists, who will from now on only be allowed into the House on an invite basis.
In a statement, the Kenya Editors Guild termed the action as shocking, and claimed it was linked to the reprisals promised by House Majority Leader Aden Duale following coverage of MPs’ demands for increased pay.
“We would like to remind the House bureaucracy and the Members alike that coverage of the Parliament is not a favour bestowed on the media,” said the statement.
“The Guild will consider asking media houses halt all coverage of Parliamentary proceedings until the environment for free and unhindered media access is restored.
“We do not believe for a moment the explanation by National Assembly Clerk Joseph Bundi that the space is required for use by parliamentary committees. It is instructive that the action comes shortly after the House Majority Leader Aden Duale threatened reprisals against the media in reaction to unfavorable coverage over MPs demands for increased pay.”
The editor’s said the ejection was retrogressive, dictatorial and “totally unacceptable in a modern, progressive and democratic society”.
Meanwhile the Kenya Media Council met with MPs today morning and expressed its displeasure with the actions of the National Assembly. Another meeting is set for June 21, when the MPs will meet with media owners and editors.
