Kenyan editors have challenged President Uhuru Kenyatta to commit to upholding media freedom.
The editors want Uhuru to make the commitment during the State of the Nation address to Parliament on Wednesday.
The Kenya Editors’ Guild said the operationalization of the Access to Information Act, which was passed in 2016, offers President Uhuru a chance to pitch for a free press in his address.
Speaking on Thursday, Editor’s Guild's chairman Churchill Otieno said it is imperative that the government not only commits itself to press freedom in word but also in deed by ensuring that journalists are accorded the space, autonomy, and protection.
“Only in this way would it ring loud and clear across this great country that media freedom is a key pillar of our democratic governance and that a country allows this freedom to thrive reaps the numerous gains that come with it,” Mr Otieno said.
The Access to Information Act has enacted two years ago, but throughout this period, it has not been operationalised.