Kakamega journalists snub governor, protest harassment of colleague

Journalists from Kakamega County have asked the governor Fernandez Barasa to assure them of their safety during coverage of his functions.

This is after one of them was blocked from covering a Malava consultative meeting on August 16 held between Barasa, sub county MCAs and area MP Malulu Injendi ahead Presidents Ruto’s weekend visit in Malava.

The Media who snubbed to cover the event after part of the security details guarding the governor directed that one of them be ejected from the function after his earlier coverage of the governor is alleged to have rubbed him the wrong way.

Efforts by the governor’s communication team to convince them to proceed covering the event fell on a deaf ear as they sought assurance from the governor about their safety.

Barasa who was meeting with leaders and other stakeholders ahead of the visit was forced to address the audience without media coverage after the Media team drawn from various organizations failed to be assured of their safety from the county chief himself despite them sending the governor emissaries to convey their grievances.

The governor however addressed the people and later left before the chief of staff, Kassim Were, Chief Officer social services Leah Khasandi and his advisor Saidi Khasavuli came to deliberate with them on the ongoing impasse.

The team expressed their fears of being harmed by the security details manning the governor who they allege have been harassing them now and then with several cases of press people being warned and threatened over covering negatively about county affairs.

The Media presented their uncertainties to them after which they assured them that they will organize for a meet between them and the governor to iron out the differences for normalcy to prevail.

At the same time there was an uproar after those mandated to facilitate the audience failed to heed to what the governor had directed and instead dished out Ksh.100 instead of the stated Ksh.200 leading to many leaving in protest.