ICT CS Joe Mucheru on fresh war path with media
ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru has refuted claims that his ministry and the government are interfering with the freedom of the Press.
The CS was speaking in response to the letter sent by the Kenya Editors protesting the move by the ministry of appointing a task force that will oversee localised political debates.
Speaking in Diani, Kwale county, Mucheru clarified that the government had no intention to meddle in the affairs of the 4th estate and had no plan to be involved in the appointment of moderators of the localised debates; rather, the CS said that it was in place to oversee and approve decisions made by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK).
“The Media Council and all these media affiliated organisations came to me and said, ‘we have appointed these people to the taskforce.’
Who am I to say no? I could not because I knew they would write again and say ‘the minister has refused,’’ Mucheru told journalists.
On Friday, April 8, Mucheru gazetted a 15-member committee to handle what is essentially a content management function.
The task force is to be chaired by Sammy Muraya, deputised by Phyllis Wakiaga.
