MCK offers special passes to critical non-journalistic staff

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has said that it will issue special media passes for critical non-journalistic staff who work in certified media houses following the curfew directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday.

Media is among other institutions that have been classified as an essential service during the dusk to dawn curfew.

President Uhuru Kenyatta declared a nationwide curfew which will run from 7pm to 5am effective March 27 to restrict movement to curb the spread of coronavirus.

“The MCK will provide temporary special media passes (SMPs) to non-journalist staff critical to the normal operation of media houses,” read part of the statement by MCK.

According to MCK, the staff that falls in this category include those in non-editorial departments such as finance, operations, human resources, marketing, and CEOs.

The council has in addition called upon media houses to aid in the facilitation of the same by providing the full names of the staff, job title, and name of the media house, National Identity/passport number, and a passport-sized photo.

Other journalists who have not yet been accredited by MCK will, however, be offered special temporary passes that will help ease in their movements.

The MCK has also advised the accredited journalists to ensure that they at all times carry their press cards as they would aid in facilitating identification to security agencies that have been tasked to enforce national security in the country.

The dusk to dawn curfew is not yet clear how long it will be effective in the country.

Kenya has so far recorded 28 cases of coronavirus with one person said to have recovered.