Wetangula met media stakeholders at the August House, after which he revealed that the move is expected to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of parliamentary reporting.
In response to a section of journalists accredited to report on parliamentary proceedings from the media precincts alleging a plot to bar them from accessing the premises, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula on Wednesday, July 17 announced the construction of an ultra-modern media centre.
Wetangula met media stakeholders at the August House, after which he revealed that the move is expected to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of parliamentary reporting.
The Speaker affirmed that the media is an integral stakeholder in facilitating the effective delivery of Parliamentary work and in informing the public while ensuring National values on transparency and accountability are achieved.
Media Council of Kenya (MCK) CEO David Omwoyo and Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) President Zubeida Kananu during a meeting with media stakeholders in Parliament on July 17, 2024. /MOSES WETANGULA
“The Constitution of Kenya 2010 through articles 34, 35 and 118 cement the role of the media, and cognizant to this fact, the Parliamentary Service Commission has this morning engaged representatives from the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) and the Kenya Parliamentary Journalists Association (KPJA) to review the current situation in the institution and re-assure the Media of a continued cordial partnership in ensuring that factual and timely information is relayed to the public,” stated Wetangula on his X account.
He added that the PSC through his stewardship committed to establishing the Ultra-Modern Media Center within the Parliament Square to help facilitate Parliamentary Reporters to effectively deliver their mandate
“During the meeting, I have assured the Media industry that the two Houses of Parliament will re-look into the existing media legislations to realign them with the current trends coupled with the advent of technology,” he added.
The move comes a day after Citizen TV journalists Stephen Letoo and Seth Olale claimed that they were banned from Parliament by PSC.
Olale, who took to his X account, revealed on Tuesday, July 16 that he was informed by reliable sources that he was banned from the precincts of Parliament alongside Letoo.
“Reliable sources within Parliament Kenya confirm that indeed I have been BANNED from Parliament alongside my colleague Stephen Letoo because of our role in highlighting #OccupyParliament. This reported move by PSC is ill-advised & against Media Freedom,” he wrote.
Letoo, in two X posts, accused Wetangula of barring journalists from the August House on allegations of being a security threat to Members of Parliament (MP).
He also believed that Parliament was carrying out a more sinister plot to block media personnel from accessing the premises, confirming that he was informed of plans to have them relocated outside the Parliament buildings.
“Other than the relocation of Parliamentary Journalists to Outside Parliament, there is a resolution to BAN some journalists myself included who Covered #OccupyParliament from stepping into the new area. Seth Olale who exposed the MPs’ escape tunnel also banned.”
Olale confirmed to Viral Tea that the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) was informed of the developments.
This was, at the time, only the second time the media had come under threat from government agencies. On the very same day that Parliament was breached, Standard Group Limited TV station, KTN News revealed that the government had threatened to shut them down.
