Journalists covering the late Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Nkaissery’s burial are required to be accredited by the National Government Communication Centre (NGCC).
According to a statement by NGCC, media intending to cover any part of the funeral service will require accreditation to have access.
“Press attending the event should register for accreditation at accreditation@nkaissery.or.ke by 2pm, Wednesday 12th of July, 2017,” read the statement in part.
Journalists have dismissed this requirement and wondered whether even mourners attending the funeral would need to be accredited or even how accrediting the media will be effected.
Members of the fourth estate have termed the requirement as ludicrous.
Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) Secretary General Eric Oduor did not hide his shock. “This is taking the joke too far. Accreditation to cover a funeral?” he posed.
Journalists are required to provide name, name of media house and ID number and the organizing committee has put a limit on the number of journalists from each media house due to limited space: 4 for TV stations, 4 for print and one for radio as space.
“Please note, strictly, ONLY accredited press will be allowed access for coverage,” says NGCC.
Meanwhile, broadcasting houses will need to provide details of their outside broadcast vans and accredit their crews as well. But what has also raised eyebrows is the suggestion that a live feed will be provided to all media houses for the actual ceremony.
This could mean no TV station will beam the event live directly from the venue but will rely on a central life feed, in what is being seen as a way to control coverage of the funeral.
According to pathologists, the retired Major General died of a condition known as myocardial infarction.
The late CS will be buried in his Kajiado home on Saturday.
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