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Media sector wants council upgraded to commission

Wednesday, March 11th, 2020 00:00 | By
MCK chairman Maina Muiruri (centre) with KUJ secretary general Eric Oduor (left) and Kenya Editors Guild chair Churchill Otieno before the BBI taskforce in Nairobi, yesterday. Photo/PD/SAMUEL KARIUKI

The media working sector group  has called  for the upgrading of the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) into a commission to oversee all the media functions across the country. 

While making their presentations yesterday before the Building Bridges Initiative Steering Committee, the group said once the council has been put in place the command sector will be centred hence there will be no confusion.

“Why can’t there be a single entity that will oversee all the functions effectively?” asked Kenya Union of Journalists  (KUJ) secretary general Eric Oduor.

At the same time, MCK chairman Maina  Muiruri proposed the need to repeal the provisions in Kenya Information and Communication Act that give Communications Authority of Kenya regulatory functions over broadcast content.

“The broadcast media industry has been under two parallel regulatory regimes thereby occasioning unnecessary paralysis in the sector,”said Muiruri.

They also want the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation Act amended to make it a public service media to develop programmes that display national ethos, values and culture.

The group also proposed the need to implement Access to Information Act. They proposed a special  prosecution unit to deal with impunity and crime against journalists.

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