The Media Council of Kenya has broken its silence after media is locked out of the Shakahola horrific cult.
The remarks come barely one days after security agencies blocked media houses from accessing the Shakahola forest as investigation into Pastor Mackenzie’s cult takes momentum.
“The @MediaCouncilK takes exception with the locking out of the media from the Shakahola forest operation scene, where several bodies have been discovered.” MCK said in a statement.
MCK note that denying Media access to the scene is an avenue to “floodgates of misinformation, rumours” and confusion in the country.
“Denying the media access to report on such a matter of public interest will open the floodgates of misinformation, rumours and confusion to the whole country.”
MCK note that the act of the police is a kin to violation of the freedom of the press and right to information which is unconstitutional.
“It violates the principles of press freedom and the right to information.”
It added: “We note that it is the media that drew attention of the country to the sad happening for several weeks before any GoK intervention, we call for establishment of a media centre & regular press briefings on site to ensure media access & dissemination of accurate information to Kenyans.”
