Kenyan journalists threaten parliament with media blackout

Kenyan journalists threatened to stop covering parliamentary proceedings on Wednesday, 5 June 2013, after National Assembly Clerk, Justin Bundi barred them from the parliamentary media centre.

7 Jun 2013

"Such actions are unprecedented in independent Kenya," Kenya Editors Guild chairman, Macharia Gaitho said according to Kenya's Daily Nation. "They are retrogressive, dictatorial and totally unacceptable in a modern, progressive and democratic society."

Gaitho and members of the guild signed a statement saying they may ask media houses to halt coverage of parliamentary proceedings until un-hindered media access is restored.

Kenya Parliamentary Journalists Association chairman, Alphonce Shiundu said impeding media coverage will take Kenya "to the dark old days", according to Kenya's Capital FM. "Kenyans need to listen to their leaders. Journalists need to tell Kenyans what their leaders in parliament are up to."

Source: allAfrica