Media barred from covering Matiang’i’s grilling by the Senate Committee on Security.

Senate Committee on security on Wednesday August 19 barred the media from covering a session in which they were grilling Interior CS Dr. Fred Matiang’i over the arrest of three senators.

Journalist who had arrived to cover the grilling session, were shown the door by the Committee Chair Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji, moments after the arrival of CS Matiang’i before the session began.

“What are you doing here, I don’t remember inviting you here, go back we will call you later,” Haji reportedly stated.

However a section of Senators expressed displeasure over the decision by the Senate Committee, to bar the media from covering the grilling session of the Interior CS Fred Matiang’i.

Taking to twitter Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen expressed shock over the decision by the committee to kick out journalists from the session.

“I am shocked that the Senate Commitee on Security chased the media from a sitting inquiring the illegal arrest of Senators. If the committee cannot stand up for colleagues, institution of Senate and democracy, then something is really rotten in the state of Kenya”, Murkomen shared in a tweet.

Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr said barring the media is denying the public the truth with his Nandi counterpart Samson Cheragei saying that the decision by the committee to kick out media is “retrogressive and illegal.”

“I disagree with the decision of the Senate Commitee on security barring media from the grilling of the CS Interior, IG Mutyambai and DCI Kinoti on the unlawful arrest and detention of Senators Malala, Lelegwe and Langat. The public have a right to know”, Mutula stated.

Decision by senate cttee of National security to kick out media during griling of CS @FredMatiangi @IG_NPS @DCI_Kenya over arrests of senators Langat, lelegwe& Malala is retrogresive & illegal @StandardKenya @citizentvkenya @Tuko_co_ke @TheStarKenya @ntvkenya

— senator kiprotich Arap cherargei (@scherargei) August 19, 2020

CS Matiang’i was accompanied by the Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai and DCI boss George Kinoti.