National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has denied claims of blocking the media from accessing Parliament.
This comes after a group of Parliamentary journalists claimed they were banned from accessing the main Parliament Buildings.
Citizen TV reporters Seth Duncan Olale and Stephen Letoo were banned from covering live Parliament proceedings following their unfiltered coverage of the ‘National Assembly Invasion’ during the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests on June 25.
However, while addressing the media on Monday, Wetang’ula said the media was instead allocated a space across from the Parliament Buildings.
“I have been seeing in the media, allegations that any restriction on the media coming to Parliament. Nothing is far from the truth and the testimony is that you are being here before me and that you have come to Parliament to do your work,” he said.
This follows the move by Gen Z protesters to storm the Parliament Buildings during the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests.
“Following the extensive damage that Parliament suffered we allocated media that covers Parliament space across the road at the Red Cross building.”
He, however, assured that they will continue to facilitate live coverage and provide access to Parliament materials for the media.
“We will be able to ensure the safety and security of Parliamentarians, our visitors including the media are guaranteed at all times without any inconvenience,” he said.
The Speaker assured Kenyans that they will be able to stream Parliament sessions as before.
“We have a duty as Parliament to ensure that whatever we do is open to the scrutiny of Kenyans in wherever parts of the world they are through media circulation and coverage,” he added.