MCK Criticizes Police for Preventing Media Coverage of Shakahola Tragedy

MCK condemned the act saying locking the media out denies them access to report on a matter of public interest

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has criticized police for blocking journalists from covering the Shakahola tragedy.

The MCK, through a statement, condemned the act saying locking the media out denies them access to report on a matter of public interest.

“This will open the floodgates of misinformation, rumors and confusion to the whole country. It violates the principles of press freedom and the right to information,” the statement reads in part.

The statement by the MCK comes after police blocked the media from going into Shakahola Forest.

Moreover, the 800-acre land where several bodies have been exhumed over the past few days, is owned by Pastor Paul Mackenzie of Good News International Church.

Also Read: Exploring Media Censorship: Why Were Journalists Denied Access to Shakahola?

Pastor Mackenzie who is currently in police custody is suspected of indoctrinating followers of his church into fasting to death to ascend to heaven and meet Jesus Christ.

Additionally, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki issued a 30-day dusk to dawn curfew in Chakama Ranch area due to the incident.

“The entire 800-acre parcel of land that is part of the Shakahola ranch is hereby declared a disturbed area and an operation zone. The multi-agency security team will upscale the search and rescue mission to save as many lives as possible,” he said on Tuesday, April 26.

Furthermore, the CS noted that the government had deployed more security personnel to comb through the vast Shakahola forest to rescue any remaining followers.