The Speaker of the National Assembly Hon.Justin Muturi this morning hosted the newly elected Kenya Parliamentary Journalists Associations (KPJA) who called on him at his Parliament Building Office.
Speaker Muturi who is also the KPJA Patron congratulated the officials who were elected to Office on August 17, and challenged them to champion for an informative and objective coverage of Parliamentary business.
“Yours is a noble duty to the People of Kenya to ensure that you not only inform the citizenry on the Parliamentary business and agenda, but that you also educate them on Parliamentary procedures and customs. I however call upon you, that as you do that, to remain objective and factual but to also keep Parliament accountable especially with regard to its oversight role”, he urged.
The Speaker noted there has been tremendous growth in the media space which in turn had increased the number of journalists covering Parliamentary business. The end result is that more citizens have become aware of the happenings in Parliament, with scores now participating in the development of the legislative agenda either through Petitions or through submission of memoranda on various Bills being transacted in the two Houses.
He also undertook that Parliament would continue to protect the right of journalists to inform Kenyans, but urged them to collaborate with Parliament in enhancing their capacity on Parliamentary business so as to promote factual and objective coverage.
On their part the officials called on Parliament through the Speaker to continue facilitating their right to access of information which is enshrined in the Constitution.
The officials who are drawn from various media houses accredited to cover Parliament, will serve for a one year team.
