By Standard Digital Reporter
The media fraternity is up in arms over attempts by Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta to erect hurdles over the coverage of his new party launch set for Sunday.
Journalists are also angry over a message that 'reporters covering the function will be given lunch' is also demeaning and insulting.
The Kenya Editors’ Guild chairman Macharia Gaitho expressed reservations on calls to have journalists covering the event send names of reporters, photographers, camera crew and technical crew ahead of the function.
“I feel that the accreditation requirement for the launch of Uhuru’s party are restrictive and an attempt at control. We have covered and will have to cover many more party and campaign launches. We should not submit to needless bureaucracy for what is a routine assignment.”
Gaitho added: “Even presidential functions are not that restrictive.”
Uhuru has been linked with the National Alliance which has been running advertisements ahead of the planned Sunday launch.
The KEG proposed that individual media houses write to Uhuru’s secretariat rejecting the accreditation requirements.
Said Gaitho: “We can point out that all staff covering the function will have the requisite Press Cards and staff identity cards.”
“If they need the numbers for logistical purposes, each media house can provide a guide on the number of reporters, photographers, cameramen etc they will send, but not necessarily the names.” Gaitho told editors.
“I think News Editors must have the leeway to assign whoever they want to that morning, and not be restricted to an pre-accredited list- not for routine launch of party.” Gaitho said.
Gaitho proposed that the party send out a detailed programme so each media house can determine for itself the number of people it needs to commit.
