Police boss Gen. Lokech say only accredited journalists will be allowed to cover news related to political campaigns.
In a statement released Wednesday, the police have made it clear that they will only allow journalists accredited by the Media Council to cover news related to political campaigns and Electoral Commission.
According to Maj.Gen. Paul Lokech the Deputy Inspector General of Police, this has been done to help enforce media council guidelines.
Earlier, the media council called on all political journalists to register lawfully for accreditation. The council said that this will help put a limit to many journalists more so the bloggers who mislead the public with wrong information.
With the deadline for registration set to close on 31st December 2020, Maj.Gen. Lokech has emphasized that they are going to hold journalists who did not register accountable should they be found capturing political events.
“We wish to notify the public that with effect from the 31.12.2020, the police and sister security agencies shall recognize ONLY journalists and media practitioners who are accredited by the Media Council, during the coverage of political campaigns and other electoral events,” he said.
“The accreditation process that has been open to all media practitioners expires on the 31.12.2020. As we had indicated in our communication of 14.12.2020, the accreditation will help us distinguish journalists who are compliant from those who are holding out.”
Maj.Gen. Lokech also, cited that the Council has already generated a list of all journalists who have been accredited, registered and are compliant with valid Media Council press badges, which shall operate as a working tool by the bonafide journalists.
He noted that all accredited journalists and media practitioners must visibly wear their press badges at all times while covering the political campaigns and electoral events.
“The Media Council has generated a list of all journalists who have been accredited, registered and are compliant with valid Media Council press badges, which shall operate as a working tool by the bonafide journalists,” he added.
“All the accredited journalists and media practitioners, must visibly wear their press badges at all times, while covering the political campaigns and electoral events. They should also know that the media press badges are personalized and therefore, non-transferable.”
He further said that the arrangement will help the police accord all journalists better protection while covering political rallies. Maj.Gen. Lokech tasked all journalists who face any form of harassment in the course of their duties to report the cases to the Media Crimes Department at CID headquarters.
“We would like to further remind all accredited journalists that our zonal and territorial commanders have been availed the list of all successfully accredited journalists for ease of verification. This arrangement will help us accord journalists better protection over the remaining electoral process,” the deputy IGP noted.
“All journalists who are subjected to any form of physical abuse and other forms of harassment in the course of their duties are reminded to report their cases to the Media Crimes Department at CID headquarters. The Commissioner, Media Crimes Department can be reached on telephone contact 0783100402.”
