Kenya Parliament bars Journalists from media center

By Allan Kisia

NAIROBI, KENYA: Journalists have been ordered out of the Media Center at Parliament Buildings, an office that was created for them to cover live parliamentary proceedings and press conferences.

Clerk of the National Assembly Justin Bundi walked to the center accompanied by officials from the Sergeant-at-Arms office and ordered journalists to vacate the premises to create more room for MPs.  

Bundi explained that the two rooms at the center will be converted to committee rooms for use by the MPs.

He further ordered the five desktop computers removed and tables and chairs be fixed for committee works.

“We are not going to create a residence for journalists at Parliament Buildings,” he stated.

The Clerk further noted that hence forth, parliamentary coverage will be by “invitation only.”

He said Parliament is faced with an acute shortage of committee rooms and thus the need to do away with the Media Center.

"They cannot occupy all this space when we do not have space for MPs. They have to stay out so that we can invite them as and when there are activities," he said.

The Kenya Parliamentary Journalist Association (KPJA) said Wednesday was a sad day for parliamentary journalism in the country.

KPJA chairman Alphonce Shiundu noted that the association had liaised with the Parliamentary Service Commission and the leadership of the House to ensure Kenyans get to know what goes on in the corridors of Parliament and even in the plenary.

"Kicking journalists out of the media center makes the already difficult task of parliamentary coverage, including the coverage of the House proceedings, the MPs’ news conferences and committee work, very very difficult," he said.

"We sympathise with the Clerk of the National Assembly and the rest of the parliamentary leadership about the inadequate space for committees."

The then House Speaker Kenneth Marende, former US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger and the then  vice chairman of the Parliamentary Service Commission Walter Nyambati officially opened the media center at Parliament Buildings in May 2009.

Marende in one of his addresses said progress had been brought by live broadcasts of parliamentary proceedings and the possession of a media center which he says opened parliament to the public bringing transparency.

He also praised the 10th parliament for passing the constitution saying that parliament had proved it had the interest of Kenyans at heart.

Marende was involved in spearheading major reforms in the National Assembly including revision of the Standing Orders, the introduction of live broadcast of parliamentary proceedings, refurbishment of the current Chamber and establishment of the Media Center as well as the parliamentary Training Center.

On Wednesday, Shiundu expressed hopes that dialogue will take place within the structures of Parliament and have the decision reconsidered.

"Kenyans need to listen to their leaders. Journalists need to tell Kenyans what their leaders in Parliament are up to," he added.

He recalled that it took a long time and persistent effort for the House to let journalists have a place within Parliament for them to file stories for their media houses.

"Let’s not roll that back," he added.

Shiundu noted that in an expanded democracy, there will be space constraints, but at a time when State House allowing journalists on its hitherto grounds, the least the National Assembly can do is to convert the media center into a committee room and tell journalists that they will be allowed into Parliament “by invitation.”