KUJ rejects establishment of Technical working group on Media debate
By Dickson Odhiambo
April 13, 2022
KUJ rejects establishment of Technical working group on Media debate
THE Kenya Union of Journalists {KUJ} has
vehemently rejected a move by the Cabinet Secretary in charge of the Ministry
of Information, Communication and Technology Joe Mucheru issuing a gazette notice establishing
the Technical
Working Group on Local Media Gubernatorial, Senatorial and Women Representative
Debates.
Through its
Secretary General, the Kenya Union of Journalists say it has reviewed the Gazette Notice dated April
8, 2022 for its full tenor and rejects it in its totality.
Kenya Union of
Journalists Secretary General Eric Oduor says setting up the Technical Working
Group in the manner and under the structures on which it is contemplated to
operate is unconstitutional illegal and untenable.
“The functions,
powers and obligations of the technical working group is not only an
encroachment into the programming and editorial matters of Media Houses and
usurpation of the mandate of other media sector players, Moreover, the process
is parallel to the initiatives by other media sector players. The objectives,
functions and operations of the Committee expressly contravene the provisions
of Article 34 (2) of the Constitution,” says Oduor in a signed press statement,
adding that the State shall not exercise control over or interfere with any
person engaged in broadcasting, the production or circulation of any
publication or the dissemination of information by any medium.
The Union says the
gazette notice provides for the involvement of the Media Council of Kenya in
coordination through provision of secretariat facilities for the Committee.
“This mandate
directly places the Council in conflict with its normative and legal mandate as
a regulator. Section 6 which prescribes the functions of the Media Council
deliberately excludes the Council from involving in programming issues as the
Council cannot simultaneously be a regulator and operator of the Media,” Oduor
says.
The Union further
says that the process and criteria upon which the Working Group was established
is not clear, adding that this violates the principles of inclusion,
transparency and accountability are directly put the Cabinet Secretary in new
production in media houses.
“The Union calls
on the Cabinet Secretary to rescind the gazette notice and allow the necessary
democratic institutions and the media to conduct their democratic
responsibilities without apparent interference by the government,” he adds.
The Union says conducting
political debates for all the positions in the upcoming general election is a
very important part of the electoral and democratic discourse, adding that coverage
and facilitation therefore is a programming and editorial functions at the
heart of all media, and interests all media houses be they national, regional,
community or local language.
It says indeed,
media industry players, under umbrella of the Kenya Media Sector Working Group
have been seized of this matter and have over the last one year put in place
mechanisms to ensure the media covers the general election slated for August 9
objectively to help the public make informed choices.
“In line with
Section 108 of the Elections Act, which requires that all candidates and
political parties participating in an election shall be allocated reasonable
airtime on all broadcasting media during the campaign period, a team was
established to organize presidential debate and plans are ongoing for debates
for other candidates,” the statement says
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