The Kenya Parliamentary Journalist Association has expressed shock at the call on the authorities of the National Assembly by a section of the Members of Parliament to shut down the press gallery because of matters of dress code and unfavorable reportage in this 21st century where media freedom and the freedom of expression is valued as the cornerstone of thriving democracies.
Some Members of the Legislative National Assembly of Kenya reiterated their call on the leadership of the Assembly to stop the journalists who cover proceedings in the House from doing their work because they claim they are improperly attired to meet the dress code of Parliament and also fall short of doing a comprehensive reportage of all the activities of the Assembly.
This demeaning remarks about the legislative scribes and the request for their ousting from covering the House was amplified at a Post-Election Seminar of the National Assembly following a media criticism of the Assembly’s insensitivity to the plight of the taxpayer.
The Media space was rife with reports about how the Assembly wasted millions of shillings in seminars in top hotels in Mombasa despite calls for austerity. The 349 member Assembly, allegedly flew to and booked themselves into a beach hotel in Mombasa for a week at the taxpayer’s expense, and yet boycotted the induction workshop that took them there to protest delays in the disbursement of their constituency development fund.
The Chairman of the Kenyan Parliamentary Reporters Association (KPRA), Mr. Duncan Khaemba in a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, condemned the move by the MPs and expressed utmost shock at their conduct as law makers.
“Kenya Parliamentary Journalists Association, KPJA, is shocked by the utterances made by a section of members of the National Assembly with regards to the media operations in Parliament. The MPs did not only disparage and blackmail the media but also called for kicking out of journalists from the precincts of Parliament by having the media center removed,” the statement indicated.
Commenting on the reasons given by the MPs for the call, the Chairman who also doubles as the Dean of the Kenyan Caucus of the African Parliamentary Press Network (APPN), said “It is shocking that the reason members want the media kicked out is because they don’t publish or broadcast everything that happens within Parliament.
“We find this demand outrageous, unpragmatic and simply unacceptable bearing in mind that National Assembly alone has 44 committees not forgetting the plenary. It is unrealistic and unreasonable to demand coverage for all these committees at the same time.”
On the allegation of the dress code, he indicated, “we wish to remind the members that the hawk-eyed security and Parliament orderlies don’t allow anyone into Parliament if deemed inappropriately dressed.”
The international Coordinator of the African Parliamentary Press Network (APPN), Mr. Gilbert Boyefio indicated in his reaction to the stalemate building up between the journalists and the Members of Parliament that, “the Secretariat is closely monitoring the situation currently ongoing between the two parties in the Assembly.
“We don’t want to go ahead of ourselves now but only to ensure that the situation doesn’t further degenerate into something else. Because this could easily be interpreted as an infringement on the rights of the journalists and a needless blot on the democratic credentials of country which may not be the desired intentions.”
Attached is the full statement by the Kenya Parliamentary Journalists Association (KPJA)
STATEMENT ON CALLS BY A SECTION OF MPS TO KICK MEDIA OUT OF PARLIAMENT
Kenya Parliamentary Journalists Association, KPJA, is shocked by utterances made by a section of members of the National Assembly with regards to the media operations in Parliament.
The MPs did not only disparage and blackmail the media but also called for kicking out of journalists from the precincts of Parliament by having the media center removed.
We also take great exception that these unfortunate comments were made in the presence of the chairman of the National Assembly’s ICT Committee John Kiarie, aka KJ, media council of Kenya CEO and a Kenya Editors Guild official.
We wish to remind the members that freedom of expression, freedom of the media and access to information are non-negotiable rights and fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.
It is shocking that the reason members want the media kicked out is because they don’t publish or broadcast everything that happens within Parliament.
We find this demand outrageous, unpragmatic and simply unacceptable bearing in mind that National Assembly alone has 44 committees not forgetting the plenary.
It’s unrealistic and unreasonable to demand coverage for all these committees at the same time.
Decisions to publish information lies with managers who are guided by editorial policy and news judgment value. This is not a decision of a parliamentary reporter.
Also, media houses make independent decisions and should not be arm-twisted or blackmailed to turn into a parliament orchestra band to engage in singing praises.
On alleged offending dress code; we wish to remind the members that the hawk-eyed security and parliament orderlies don’t allow anyone into parliament if deemed in appropriately dressed which goes to the extent of impeding camerapersons access since theirs is smart casual.
Apart from members and journalists, parliament has its staff, personal assistants to members and visitors. If any of them dresses inappropriately, surely, can it be concluded that outrightly that person is a journalist?!
As KPJA, we reiterate that media independence should be jealously guarded by all means.
We shall remain objective and professional in our parliamentary coverage as society watchdog. We serve public interest and not parochial.
We urge the speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Moses Wetangula, to ensure Parliament respects, uphold and protect the constitution which guards media freedom.
Signed by
Duncan Khaemba, Jane Goin,
Chairman ` Secretary General
