Nakuru Journalists have condemned the happenings of Wednesday September 25, 2024 at the County Assembly where their colleagues were harassed by security personnel.
The Journalists had been invited to cover the Wednesday’s Proceedings at the Assembly.
However, they were faced with hostile security personnel who claimed to have ‘orders from above’ to bar any member of fourth estate from accessing the premise.
It should be noted that the security personnel comprised of both the County Assembly security team and extra officers from the National Police Service.
This saw of the Journalists assaulted as they tried to make their way into the Assembly compound through the main gate.
In a statement from Chairperson Nakuru Journalists’ Association Mr Joseph Openda, the Journalism fraternity in Nakuru has condemned the move terming it a move to derail Media as enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya.
“It has come to our attention that our members were today blocked and harassed at the County Assembly by the Assembly orderlies from covering the proceedings. The move infringes on freedom of media and as such we condemn these actions that undermines the work of Journalists,” reads part of the statement.
The Journalists are now demanding a public apology from the leadership of the County Assembly of Nakuru, failure to which they take a legal step.
Openda noted that this is meant to safeguard the rights of Journalists in Nakuru County.
They have also called on the County Assembly of Nakuru to put in place measures that will ensure Journalists are able to carry out their work while at the Assembly without harassment, intimidations or any other form of interference.
