Uhuru pledges to safeguard media freedom

By Standard Digital Reporter

NAIROBI, KENYA: President Uhuru Kenyatta has assured Kenyans of government’s commitment to uphold press freedom in the country.

He noted that the Kenyan media enjoyed freedom of expression that his administration would like to sustain for the development of the economy.

“Media plays critical role in informing, educating and entertaining the society, my government will work on necessary legislation to ensure media conducts its business with ease,” the President said on Thursday.

“We are going to speed crucial bills such as the data protection bill, access to information bill among other pending bills to allow our media to conduct its business,” he said.

Due to the role media plays in the society, the president said his administration would create a same level playing ground for fairness among the operators. He however challenged the media industry to be responsible in coverage and harness the potential of Information and Communication Technology.

Uhuru noted that emerging technologies such twitter, facebook among other networks have opened a new chapter in journalism more so in diffusing information to the public in real time. “Social networks should however be used responsibly to build our economy and create an informed society.”

Kiprono Kittony from the Media Owners Association urged the government to include local media in the digital migration process.

“The government has so far issued two digital distribution licenses but not to local private operators, this needs to be reviewed, the third licenses should be given out to one of us for fairness,” he said.