A section of Citizen TV journalists have reportedly been banned from accessing certain areas within the parliament precincts.
In two separate statements by Royal Media journalists Seth Olale and Stephen Letoo , they both confirmed they were not allowed to access Parliament over their coverage of the raid where protesters attempted to confront MPs who had voted in favour of the Finance Bill 2024 on Tuesday, June 25.
Letoo intimated that the journalists had been termed as a security threat to MPs, and stated that he had confirmation that the proposal was allegedly supported by the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Service Commission.
“So now Hon Wetangula, National Assembly Speaker and Parliamentary Service Commission Chair want to Kick out Journalists Covering Parliament from the Precints (Media Centre) on grounds we are a source of ‘insecurity to MPs’ following #OccupyParliament coverage!” read Letoo’s statement in part.
According to Letoo, his colleague Seth Olale was also banned from accessing the new designated area.
“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 in the new area. Seth Olale who exposed the MPs escape tunnel was also banned,” he shared.
Olale was trapped within parliament buildings with parliamentarians where he covered their escape via the basement tunnels to Bunge Towers.
He took to his social media platforms to confirm his banishment.
“Indeed, I can confirm that a reliable source in the parliament of Kenya told me that I have been banned from parliament precincts following my coverage of occupy parliament protests. The source is also privy to recommendations from a parliamentary service commission meeting that passed the resolution,” Olale said
He decried the ban terming it as unfair and was a way of infringing the freedom of the media.
“This is unfair. They are trying to push brave journalists out of the parliament,” he added.
The Parliamentary Service Commission is yet to issue a statement to address the allegations.