Move to block journalists blow to press freedom- Media owners

Media owners have condemned Parliament's decision to eject journalists from the Media Centre terming it a blow to democracy and press freedom.

Media Owners Association chairman Kiprono Kittony said the move will disengage the public from receiving critical coverage on parliamentary proceedings and called on the National Assembly to rescind its decision.

"The move is a blow to the gains towards democracy and will disengage the public from receiving critical proceedings in Parliament. We, therefore, call upon Parliament to rescind its decision,” he said in a statement.

Clerk of the National Assembly Justin Bundi on Wednesday issued an ultimatum to journalists to vacate the Media Centre at parliament buildings saying the House was not "creating residence for journalists" at Parliament.

Mr Kittony said it was improper and quite humiliating for accredited journalists to be locked out without prior notice.

He said journalists are an integral part of Parliament and it is impossible to achieve democracy without the press.

On Thursday, Speaker Justin Muturi ordered journalists out of the media centre and told them that they will operate from the press gallery.

In a ruling to the House, Mr Muturi upheld Mr Bundi's directive to convert Parliament’s media centre into two committee rooms.

The ruling means journalists have no option but to stay away from Parliament unless House proceedings and committee meetings are on-going.