Kenya Editors Guild president Zubeidah Kananu has called for the media to be allowed to cover the Shakahola grave site exhumation.
Kananu spoke on Tuesday during a two-day conference for East African journalists to discuss the role of journalists in combating violent extremism.
"I am calling on the authorities to remove the dark cloud hanging over the freedom we require to discharge our constitutional responsibilities," she said.
Kananu said Kenyan journalists have been shut out from the epicentre of activity and left by the State to rummage from wherever for information.
"It is important for media to witness unfolding events at the Shakahola crime scene, to enable journalists to report accurately," she said.
Kananu said locking journalists, and only forcing them to rely on press briefings will fuel speculation and misinformation.
"Kenya Editors’ Guild condemns without reservation the act to bar journalists from covering this event and views this action as a violation of Press Freedom," Kananu said.
She said the move to bar journalists from the epicentre of activity is a violation of press freedom, and the violation adds up to sustained violence against journalists by police as they set out to carry out their public duty of informing the citizens.
Kananu said the freedom of the media, freedom of expression and access to Information are guaranteed in Articles 33 and 34 of the Constitution.
"The State must accord journalists the security, justice and fairness they require. Is this too much a demand?" Kananu posed.
