Marende kicks out Radio Africa journalists

House Speaker Kenneth Marende ordered out from Parliament’s Press Gallery journalists from Radio Africa Group over a programme aired by one of its FM stations on MPs’ salary increment.

Marende threw out the journalists from Radio Africa whose flagships include Kiss FM, Classic FM and The Star newspaper over a breakfast show on July 6. Kisumu Town East MP Shakeel Shabir had sought the Speaker’s guidance over the matter.

Shabir told the House a presenter at the breakfast show referred to the Speaker as a "fool" and demanded the Chair rules on the matter.

The Speaker said he had studied the transcript of the radio broadcast by Kiss FM.

"There are minimum bounds that must be set and adhered to. In the present matter, the Chair finds that the broadcast by Kiss FM aired on the morning of July 6, 2010, did not meet the barest minimum bounds of good taste and civility," he added.

Marende pointed out that the broadcast was intended or had the effect of demeaning.

"In dealing with this affront on the House, I wish to borrow from the precedent set by my predecessor on April 26, 2006, by directing that commencing forthwith, Kiss FM and all media representatives of Radio Africa be and are hereby excluded from the Press Gallery, the press centre, parliamentary committees and press conferences held in the precincts of the National Assembly for two months or until further orders from the Chair," added the Speaker.