Baringo senator Gideon Moi (Photo/ standardmedia.co.ke)
Baringo Senator Gideon Moi has gone after the government over the closure of three leading television stations.
The Kenya Africa National Union (KANU) Leader said that the constitution guarantees freedom to information and the government is a threat towards achieving that goal by shutting down Television stations.
"Over the last four days, Kenyans have been in information darkness. Section 34 (1) is clear that freedom and independence of electronic, print and all other types of media is guaranteed and that the state shall not exercise control over or interfere with any person engaged in broadcasting, the production or circulation of any publication or dissemination of information by any medium." Moi said.
He stated that the government should adhere to the court order to reinstate the TV station since the country was undergoing an information blackout.
"The government has ignored the court order and the country continues to find itself in information blackout with no one knowing for how long. Though the government has indicated that the stations are under investigations, they do not have to be off-air for investigations to go on," Moi averred.
Moi who is the chairman of the Senate ICT commitee journalists are constantly being harassed and hence finding a very difficult working environment.
"Journalists are also finding themselves in a worrying environment of intimidation and harassment for doing their work. It should also guarantee journalists of their safety and working environment free of intimidation and harassment," he said.
Three television stations , Citizen TV, NTV and KTN News were shut down on Tuesday for airing NASA's oath ceremony.
Interior CS Fred Matiang'i on Wednesday said that the television stations will only be opened once Investigations are completed.