Editors Guild accuses CS Mucheru of infringement on media freedom.
The Kenya Editors Guild, through its president Churchill Otieno, has accused Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru of illegally gazetting a technical working group on local language media and aspirants debates, a task that is meant to be done by the 4th Estate.
In a statement, the Guild accused the CS of undermining the role of the media in elective politics and termed the action as an infringement on media freedom.
Further, Otieno cautioned the CS on schooling the media on how to conduct coverage.
“Ultimately, the Gazette Notice putting in place the Technical Working Group violates the constitution.
It can only be viewed as illegal and undemocratic and is tantamount to interference with the media coverage of the electoral process,” he said.
Despite two members of the Guild being appointed by Mucheru to be part of the task force, Otieno insists that the two were operating in their capacities and not on behalf of the Editors guild.
He recommends that the CS revokes the decision in the interest of media freedom.
In the run-up to August 9, the general election, The Media Owners Association, in conjunction with the Kenya Editors Guild and Media Council of Kenya, is organising the 2022 Presidential Debate slotted for July.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday, a joint production with membership drawn from leading media houses will also conduct a Deputy Presidential Debate at a venue to be announced in the future.
