By Salim Mutuma
The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has castigated the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for summoning two Royal Media Services editors over the Guns expose terming it a violation of press freedom.
DCI boss George Kinoti on April 20 summoned RMS Strategy and Innovations Director Linus Kaikai and Editorial Director Joe Ageyo to shed more light on the firearms that Purity Mwambia procured from alleged police officers through rogue brokers.
MCK said the summons against the editorial team was a threat to press freedom and for the Media House exposing weaknesses in the National Police Service, NPS cannot purport to investigate or summon the journalists.
Following the April 18 broadcast, Mr Kinoti claimed that the reporting was inaccurate and only aimed at humiliating the NPS.
In April 20 release, MCK said if the DCI or NPS feels aggrieved by the investigative piece, they should file complaints with the Media Complaints Commission.
“Efforts should be put to finding out how officers were providing civilians with guns, bullets and handcuffs. Summoning the journalists or coercing them to reveal sources is a violation of press freedom and the constitution,” MCK’s CEO David Omwoyo said.
Mr Kinoti said it was wrong and criminal for Citizen TV’s Purity Mwambia to hold the weapons she got for a long period before handing them over to the police.
