Internet Goes Wild After State Breaks Another Law

Days after the State faced criticism over arresting three senators, the same government has moved to break another law.

On Wednesday Senate Security Committee barred the media from covering the grilling of Interior CS Fred Matiang’i a move that has been viewed as the interference of freedom of the press.

Journalists were kicked out of the committee’s meeting that was convened to find out the reasons behind the dramatic arrest of the three senators on Monday.

The Interior CS was accompanied by Police Inspector General Hillary Mutyambai in the meeting that began at 10 am.

Reporters arrived at the parliament building earlier but were later ordered to out by the National Security Committee Chairman Yusuf Haji.

“What are you doing here. I don’t remember inviting you here. Go back we will call you back later,” Haji told reporters.

The move to kick out journalist has angered some senators such as Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior who believed the grilling should have been made in public for the people to know why the three senators were arrested.

“I disagree with the decision of the Senate Committee on security barring media from the grilling of the CS Interior, IG Mutyambai and DCI Kinoti on the unlawful arrest and detention of Senators Malala, Lelegwe and Lang’at. The public has a right to know,” Mutula said via his Twitter handle.

While his Nandi counterpart Senator Samson Cheragei said the move by the committee to kick out the journalists was “retrogressive and illegal.”

The outspoken Senator, Kipchumba Murkomen also questioned the decision taken by the committee to kick out the media.

“If the committee cannot stand up for colleagues, the institution of Senate and democracy, then Something is really rotten in the state of Kenya,” Murkomen said.

LSK President Nelson Havi noted that the move was taking the country back to the ‘dark old days’.

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“…..The return to Kanu’s despotic rule Ten Years after the promulgation of The Constitution of Kenya and Liberation Speaker Honourable Kenneth Otiato Marende having allowed the live broadcast of proceedings of Parliament as well as of its Committees,” he said.

Both CS Matiang’i and police boss Mutambai were expected to explain why senators Christopher lang’at (Bomet), Cleophas Malala (Kakamega), and Steve Lelegwe (Samburu) were arrested the very day the Senate was to decide on the controversial revenue sharing formula among the devolved units.